[Chartres Cathedral, Central Portal of the South Transept; The Last Judgment] 1855

Charles Nègre captured "Chartres Cathedral, Central Portal of the South Transept; The Last Judgment" with a waxed paper negative, sometime in the mid-19th century. Nègre, living in a rapidly changing France, used photography to preserve aspects of French culture he believed were at risk of disappearing due to modernization. This image encapsulates the imposing architecture of Chartres Cathedral, specifically focusing on the South Transept's central portal depicting the Last Judgment. During this period, religious institutions wielded considerable social and cultural power, shaping community values and dictating societal norms, particularly around gender roles and social hierarchies. The Last Judgment scene, a traditional subject in Christian art, reinforces this power structure, presenting a clear divide between the saved and the damned. Nègre's choice to document this portal, laden with religious symbolism, speaks to the era's complex relationship with faith. The photograph invites us to consider the intertwined histories of religion, power, and representation.