Basement met ramskoppen en sfinxen c. 1875 - 1900

Gustave Eugène Chauffourier created this photograph, "Basement with rams' heads and sphinxes," during a period of profound change in France, marked by the rise of photography as both an art form and a tool for documentation. At first glance, you are confronted with a highly stylized pedestal adorned with rams’ heads, sphinxes, and an angel. This photograph is a window into the visual culture of the late 19th century, when artists and intellectuals were grappling with questions of identity, history, and representation in a rapidly modernizing world. The use of classical and mythological imagery reflects the era’s fascination with the past but also signals an attempt to imbue the present with a sense of timelessness. This image invites us to consider the ways in which historical symbols are repurposed and recontextualized to negotiate contemporary realities. It encourages us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where we come from.