Vaucluse 1861 - 1864

Editor:"Vaucluse," a gelatin silver print created by Édouard Baldus sometime between 1861 and 1864... the village looks almost dwarfed by the vast, rocky landscape. I’m struck by how this photograph captures both the monumentality of nature and humanity's place within it. What kind of story do you think Baldus is telling us with this composition? Curator: He’s presenting a specific vision of France, undoubtedly influenced by the Second Empire's agenda of national promotion through infrastructure development and artistic documentation. Look at the technical skill - it’s superb for the era. Doesn’t that level of detail and control over a new medium speak to a certain authority? What message do you think this conveys? Editor: Authority, yes, like an official record, maybe even a statement of national pride? I hadn’t thought about the Second Empire in this context. It seems like this isn't just about representing the landscape. Curator: Precisely. Photography, then, became a tool to not only capture but also to shape perceptions of France's geography and its cultural heritage. These images were commissioned and circulated, reinforcing specific political and aesthetic ideals. Note also the influence of Romanticism - picturesque villages were desirable. Where is this photo intended to be displayed or published? And who would see it? Editor: That makes so much sense! It’s not simply a "snapshot" then. The village becomes a picturesque scene approved by certain sociopolitical values... interesting. This was a totally different way of thinking. I feel I should rethink the meaning of "romanticism" as I knew it... Thanks. Curator: Indeed. Examining art within its historical framework provides context on why and how the artist and the commissioner might have created a specific scene in order to transmit particular values to its targeted public. Food for thought.