Propyleeën van de akropolis van Athene before 1910

This photograph of the Propylaea of the Acropolis in Athens was captured by Frédéric Boissonnas sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I wonder what it was like for Boissonnas standing there, framing this shot. Did he feel small or humbled looking up at the architectural feat in front of him? I feel that way sometimes when I am confronted with something ancient. How can you come face to face with something so monumental, and not feel overwhelmed? The tones are muted, the light is soft, and the image quality is slightly grainy. This combination gives the structure a ghostly appearance, as though we are catching a glimpse of it suspended in time. I imagine the scene was silent and still apart from the wind. The Acropolis has served as a kind of muse for countless artists and thinkers across generations. It is fascinating to think about how these sites inspire so much creative exchange. Boissonnas’ photograph is just one of these traces left behind.