Graf van Louis Daguerre op de begraafplaats te Bry-sur-Marne before 1905

This is a black and white print in a book, showing the grave of Louis Daguerre, likely made sometime after his death. The way the images sit on the page is interesting, not quite cropped, and not quite fitting. It reminds me that artmaking is always a negotiation with the materials at hand. Look closely at the texture of the page, the way the ink sits slightly raised on the surface. You can almost feel the pressure of the printing press, the weight of history bearing down. The images are grainy, with soft edges, like memories fading with time. Notice how the crosshatching in the sky creates a sense of depth, almost like a drawing. The photograph is trying to recreate the real thing. It makes me think of other artists who grappled with the ephemeral nature of existence, like Felix Gonzalez-Torres, whose piles of candy were both a celebration of life and a meditation on loss. Ultimately, this print invites us to contemplate the passage of time and the enduring power of images. Art is a conversation across generations.