Gipsafgietsel van een kandelaber in het Musée des monuments français te Parijs c. 1875 - 1900

This is Médéric Mieusement's photograph of a plaster cast of a candelabra, taken at the Musée des monuments français in Paris. Mieusement was commissioned by the French government to document historical monuments, a project which speaks to the 19th century's fascination with preserving national heritage. However, it is important to remember that this endeavor was not neutral. The act of selecting and framing certain monuments over others inevitably reflects the cultural and political values of the time. In this light, the candelabra becomes more than just a decorative object; it represents the tastes and priorities of a specific class and era. Consider the image's composition, with the candelabra centered and bathed in light. What does this choice convey about its importance? How does it feel to know that the Musée des monuments français was dedicated to preserving artifacts, many of which were taken from marginalized groups or once colonized territories? This photograph invites us to reflect on who gets to write history and whose stories are deemed worthy of preservation.