Versailles, Grand Trianon (Le Buffet) 1905

Eugène Atget made this photograph, Versailles, Grand Trianon (Le Buffet), with a darkroom camera and gelatin silver printing sometime in the early 20th century. Atget spent his career documenting the architecture of Paris and its surrounding areas. In this image, Atget directs his lens towards a fountain at Versailles, once the epicenter of French royal power and privilege. His choice to focus on this location raises questions about power, class, and representation in a rapidly changing society. The image reflects on the tension between the grandeur of the past and the shifting social landscape of early 20th century France. The fountain’s intricate carvings and ornate details evoke a sense of opulence, while Atget's photographic treatment gives the scene a melancholic and spectral feel. Stripped from color, the scene emphasizes texture and form, inviting us to reflect on the emotional weight of history and memory. It offers a silent commentary on the passage of time and the mutability of power.