Buste van Nicolas Coustou door G. Coustou c. 1875 - 1900

This photograph of a sculpture was made by Adolphe Giraudon in the late 19th or early 20th century. Photography in this period was as much a craft as an art, demanding expertise in chemistry and optics. Giraudon was one of many photographers who documented artworks, making them accessible to a wider audience through reproduction. Here, the choice of lighting and focus emphasizes the texture of the original sculpture, a bust of Nicolas Coustou by G. Coustou. The sculpture's rough surface and the play of light and shadow give it a sense of depth and presence. Consider the labor involved: from quarrying the marble to the sculptor's handwork, and finally the photographer's skill in capturing it. By appreciating the making, we recognize how deeply intertwined art, craft, and industry truly are.