Toegangsportaal van het Pavillon de la Bibliothèque in het Palais du Louvre te Parijs before 1875

Edouard Baldus made this photograph of the entrance to the Library Pavilion at the Louvre Palace in Paris using a Calotype process. In mid-19th century France, photography played a crucial role in documenting and celebrating the nation's architectural heritage. Baldus was one of several photographers involved in the Missions Héliographiques, a government-sponsored project to record historical monuments. The aim of the project was to preserve a visual record of these sites, at a time when they were undergoing rapid transformation due to urban development. Here, Baldus uses the then-new medium to document the Louvre, reinforcing its status as a symbol of French cultural identity. This image isn't just a neutral record; it is a carefully constructed representation that serves to promote national pride and cultural continuity. We see the history of cultural institutions becoming entwined with the history of photography itself. To fully appreciate this photograph, scholars consult archives, architectural records, and contemporary accounts to uncover the layers of meaning embedded within it.