Gezicht op Promenade des Anglais te Nice c. 1872 - 1874

This photograph, "Gezicht op Promenade des Anglais te Nice," was captured by Eugène Degand. The monochromatic palette presents a study in tonal relationships, where light and shadow define the architectural forms and the perspective of the boulevard. The image is structured around a dominant horizontal axis, bisecting the composition into the sunlit foreground street and the more dimly lit buildings that recede into the distance. Linear forms—the rows of trees, the fence and the building facades—converge to create a vanishing point. This directional pull draws the eye through the space, illustrating a relationship between the viewer's position and the constructed environment. The photograph can be viewed as a meditation on the act of seeing itself. Degand uses the photographic medium to explore perspective and spatial depth. The tonal range further enhances the dimensionality of the scene, inviting the viewer to reflect on how photography can shape perception.