Façade van de Notre-Dame te Parijs before 1886

This is a photograph of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, made by an anonymous photographer at an unknown date. Photographs like these were produced in multiples and sold as souvenirs, relying on paper and darkroom chemistry, materials of both documentary and artistic expression. This image captures the cathedral's facade in great detail, emphasizing the stone's texture and the building's intricate carvings. Notre-Dame was constructed over centuries, involving generations of stonemasons, carpenters, and glassmakers. The original building was a massive undertaking, and this image connects with that deep history. It's important to consider not just the image, but also the larger context of labor, class, and commerce that underlies both the cathedral's construction and the photographic process. By attending to the material and the making, we can appreciate the intersection of art, craft, and social history.