Moulin de la Galette (Montmartre) 1842

Hippolyte Bayard captured this image of the Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre using a paper negative. Bayard, often overshadowed, was a contemporary of Daguerre, and a pioneer of photography in his own right. This photograph invites us into the bustling heart of Montmartre, a place where the working class gathered, and artists found their muse. The Moulin de la Galette wasn't just a windmill; it was a beacon of community, offering food, drink, and dance, a space for connection and celebration of working-class identity. Bayard, like many early photographers, faced the challenge of representing movement and life in a still image. What does it mean to still a subject, to pick it out of history? Think about how class, leisure, and community intertwine in this image and how Bayard's photograph both reflects and shapes our understanding of this iconic Parisian scene.