Mont-Majour, Poterne de la Tour de L'Abbaye c. 1852

Charles Nègre made this calotype print, Mont-Majour, Poterne de la Tour de L'Abbaye, sometime in the 19th century. Nègre was commissioned to document historical monuments in France and this interest in recording architectural heritage speaks to the cultural and political milieu of the time. In 19th century France, photography was being promoted by the Commission des Monuments Historiques as a tool for documenting and preserving the nation's architectural treasures. Here, Nègre captures the Abbey of Montmajour, a Benedictine monastery near Arles. This photographic choice is a visual language of power, demonstrating photography's ability to freeze time and preserve memory and the historical narrative. To better understand the image, one might look at state archives or institutional records. The meaning of art shifts according to the social and institutional context, and our understanding evolves as historians uncover more evidence.