Gezicht op het Kasteel van Chantilly, Frankrijk before 1896

This photograph of the Château de Chantilly in France is one of many that were published as a collection. It is printed on a page next to an alphabetical list of geographical locations. This is part of a publishing and collecting trend of the time, capturing landmarks or objects in print so that they might be archived or consumed at home. The photograph is from a moment of unprecedented cultural heritage production in Europe. The image and the index speak to the increasing availability of cultural artifacts to new audiences, due to developments in technology and tourism. As historians, we might consider the image as part of a larger project. We should ask ourselves questions about the relationship between travel, collecting, and nationhood in France during this period. We would seek answers in libraries, archives, and museums. Understanding the historical context is crucial to unlocking the meaning of a cultural artefact.