Le Geant, Champ de Mars c. 1863 - 1889

Editor: So, this albumen print, "Le Geant, Champ de Mars," captured sometime between 1863 and 1889 by Nadar, shows what looks like a crowd gathered to watch hot air balloons. It’s strangely serene despite all those people; the balloons seem to float in a dreamlike sepia tone. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Well, beyond the immediate historical context – imagine being there, a bustling 19th-century Paris anticipating a balloon ascent! – I’m drawn to Nadar's audacious choice to position the balloons off-center. They aren't the apex, are they? The ground is teeming, a visual representation of a society gazing upwards, towards possibility. It's like Nadar is whispering, "Look closely, there is an ascension happening in this moment for each one." Editor: Ascension! I like that. The way the figures blur slightly, it almost gives a sense of collective breathlessness. So much anticipation, literally up in the air. Do you think Nadar intended to focus as much on the collective as on the balloons themselves? Curator: Absolutely! It’s a societal portrait painted with light. Nadar wasn't merely documenting an event; he was capturing a shared human experience. And remember, he was also experimenting with aerial photography himself. Was he positioning the launch as also symbolic of photography reaching new heights? Food for thought. Editor: Photography as flight! That's powerful. It gives the whole piece a different dimension. It almost feels like we're not just observing a scene but being invited into a shared moment of technological wonder. I thought this picture was interesting when I first saw it, now, thanks to you, I realize there are whole universes to explore. Curator: Art's a doorway, always remember that, ready to spring open with the slightest touch!