Gezicht op de Lodewijk XII vleugel van het Kasteel van Blois before 1875

Méderic Mieusement made this photograph of the Louis XII wing of the Château de Blois, using paper and photographic chemicals. Photography, invented in the 19th century, democratized image-making, breaking from the skilled traditions of painting and drawing. The tonal range of the print, from the stark whites to velvety blacks, captures the texture of the stone facade. Consider the social context: photography allowed for wider circulation of images. While paintings were unique and commissioned by the elite, photographic prints could be reproduced, collected into albums, and shared. Mieusement's photograph makes the architecture of Blois accessible. It invites us to consider how new technologies change labor, patronage, and access to art and aesthetics. By bringing photographic processes to bear on architectural subject matter, the artist asks us to reflect on our own place in this chain of making and distribution. So, next time you see a photograph, think about the many hands and processes involved in its creation, and how those impact its meaning.