Les ruines de Paris et de ses environs, 1870-1871 / cent photographies par A. Liébert; texte par Alfred D'Aunay 1872

Editor: Here we have, “Les ruines de Paris et de ses environs, 1870-1871 / cent photographies par A. Liébert; texte par Alfred D'Aunay," dating from 1872, which appears to be an opened book with an albumen print photograph inside. The page feels… fragile. A bit haunting, even, knowing what "ruins" implies. What’s your initial impression? Curator: Fragile is a perfect word. And more than fragile, perhaps, poignant. I feel the weight of history, you know? It's not just the ruins depicted, but the act of documenting them, the impulse to record loss. This album isn’t just a collection of photographs; it's a physical manifestation of grief and resilience. Doesn’t it make you wonder who held this book? What did they think as they turned these pages, faced with the ghosts of their city? Editor: Absolutely. There's a stillness, a sense of quiet contemplation almost built into the object itself. Looking at it now, it does feel special. Was photography commonly used to document such destruction back then? Curator: Indeed. The late 19th century saw the rise of photography as a powerful tool for documentation, especially during and after periods of conflict. Think of it: capturing ruins, you're also capturing a moment in time, freezing it forever, right? And what a profound thing to freeze. This album reminds us that even amidst destruction, there is always an impulse to create, to remember, and to rebuild. It offers hope and deep despair together. Editor: It makes you consider the power and importance of preservation and what these types of collections can tell us about the history. Curator: Precisely! Next time, perhaps, we can dive into the individual photographs themselves… each ruin tells a story.