Saint Germain des Prés, rue de l’Abbaye after 1898

Curator: Eugène Atget’s "Saint Germain des Prés, rue de l’Abbaye," presents a street scene, capturing a slice of Parisian life. It’s an albumen print, a process that was commercially available for many years. Editor: Oh, I get this sort of wistful, melancholic vibe from it, you know? Like a memory fading at the edges. Curator: Indeed. Atget methodically documented the architecture and streetscapes of Paris, preserving what was vanishing due to modernization. Note the layers of posters covering the wall, evidence of the city’s vibrant advertising industry. Editor: They almost feel like palimpsests, where each layer tells a story but also obscures what came before, like the street itself. Curator: Precisely, pointing at the ephemeral nature of commerce and culture against the backdrop of enduring architecture. Editor: You know, I feel like this image makes me want to go roam around Paris, find a tiny crêperie, and watch the day go by. Curator: In its focus on the quotidian, Atget’s photograph challenges the hierarchy between high art and everyday life, focusing on production and consumption. Editor: It’s pretty amazing, isn't it? A city captured in a bottle, almost.