Nymphéas 1922 - 1923

This photograph, titled "Nymphéas" or "Water Lilies," was made by Eugène Atget, using a large format camera and gelatin silver process. Atget was fascinated by the material qualities of the world around him, and this is evident in the rich, tonal range of this photograph. The gelatin silver printing process, refined over decades, allowed for a high level of detail and clarity. Atget was working in a Paris undergoing rapid transformation due to industrialization and urbanization. His photographs, made using a slow and deliberate process, offer a counterpoint to this frenetic pace of change. He captured a disappearing world, documenting the city's architecture, trades, and material culture. This was all driven by the needs of commerce. By focusing on the everyday and the overlooked, Atget elevated the status of the ordinary. His photographs remind us that materials, making, and context are essential to fully grasp an artwork's meaning, blurring the lines between art, craft, and documentation.