Gezicht op een schoorsteenmantel met salamander in de Frans I vleugel van het Kasteel van Blois before 1875

This photograph by Médéric Mieusement captures a chimney-piece within the Château de Blois. Executed in a monochromatic palette, the print emphasizes the tactile qualities of the carved stone and brickwork. The composition is structured around the rectangular form of the chimney, creating a balance between the solid mass of the hearth and the decorative elements above. The salamander motif, prominently displayed, serves as a visual signifier, alluding to royal symbolism and power. The textures—rough brick against smooth stone—invite a semiotic reading, contrasting utility with ornamentation. Mieusement’s formal approach to this subject destabilizes conventional notions of architectural photography. Rather than merely documenting, he uses light and shadow to create a dialogue between form and symbol, inviting us to consider how architectural elements function within a larger cultural discourse. The starkness of the photograph underscores the enduring presence of historical narratives embedded within the physical structures of power.