Gezicht op trappen (vermoedelijk) te Rome c. 1875 - 1900

This photograph of a staircase, likely taken in Rome, was created by Gustave Eugène Chauffourier sometime between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, photography was emerging as a powerful tool for documenting and representing the world, often reinforcing existing social hierarchies. Consider the perspective Chauffourier chooses: we are placed at the bottom of the stairs looking up. The architecture looms large, evoking a sense of grandeur and perhaps even inaccessibility. This viewpoint subtly mirrors the social dynamics of the era, where class divisions were pronounced and access to power and privilege was often restricted. The sepia tones lend the image a timeless quality, yet also subtly remind us of the historical distance. This invites reflection on how spaces and power structures persist, evolve, or perhaps become transformed. How do we navigate the architecture of power in our own lives?