Exterieur van de Opéra Garnier te Parijs 1889

Editor: Here we have John Fillis Jarvis’ “Exterior of the Opéra Garnier in Paris,” a photograph from 1889. It gives me a real sense of bustling city life, with the grandeur of the opera house looming over the square. What grabs you about this image? Curator: It feels almost like stepping back in time, doesn't it? It is more than a photograph, for me – it's a time capsule. Jarvis, you know, was a master of Pictorialism. So he manipulated the photographic print, adding layers of tone and shadow to achieve something that looked more like a painting. He sought to reveal the emotional qualities inherent in the depicted scenery and create a dreamy atmosphere! You notice how soft and romantic it seems? It also looks like he uses this… dreamy scenery, but the lines are very defined as they meet the details of the building… doesn't it remind you a bit of theatre? I like to wonder, if Jarvis were still alive today, what filter he would use for Instagram, and, perhaps more deeply, I think his exploration of the photograph's "inner essence" would find interesting resonance in AI artmaking and its potential for transcending merely mimetic art. Don't you think? Editor: That's a cool thought. I was only thinking about the light. All of those soft grays kind of blur out detail; It does feel like a memory or something… what I hear you saying, this picture is actually manipulating my memory! Curator: Absolutely! Look at those ghostly carriages and the figures, rendered so softly they could float away! He isn't simply recording reality; he's interpreting it. In a way, his work suggests we shouldn’t only *see* something. but actually *feel* the memory the scene represents, or even evokes, right? What emotions does it stir for you? Editor: A touch of wistful nostalgia, perhaps. And this reminds me to maybe actually send a postcard or write a letter! Thanks!