Deur in het kasteel van Blois 1850 - 1900

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Deur in het kasteel van Blois," dating roughly between 1850 and 1900, attributed to B. F. Rives. It's a print, a form of photography, depicting what appears to be an ornately decorated door or possibly a fireplace within a city setting. There's almost a haunting feel to it with all the fine detail. What really stands out to me is how the architecture is the subject. How do you see this piece speaking to that era? Curator: You're right, there's something incredibly compelling about its austere grandeur! To me, this photograph feels like a portal. It’s more than just a documentation of stonework; it's almost a character study of an era obsessed with embellishment. The lack of human presence adds a layer of mystery, don’t you think? Like the castle is whispering secrets long forgotten. The choice to present architecture as portrait is fascinating, almost as if the building itself embodies a soul, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: That's an intriguing perspective – architecture as a soul! So the photographer focused on what many would pass by, elevating it to the level of portraiture. Now I see why you said 'portal' because it opens to this bygone era of aristocracy. The fact that this is photography and not a drawing gives a different sense of realism, which creates a distinct artistic commentary. Curator: Exactly! The photographic medium offers that 'slice of life' authenticity that drawing sometimes lacks, and with that, B. F. Rives gives us access to a different appreciation for architecture, and culture itself! It’s not just about documenting a physical space, it is like we ourselves walked through that door of the Blois castle, can you feel that? Editor: I never thought about photography as a way to appreciate architecture; rather I saw it simply as a means of documenting what a structure looked like at a certain time. Now, the image seems so much more multi-layered. Thanks for shifting my perspective!