Rue de la Lingerie, de la rue Berger 1860s - 1870s

Editor: This photograph, "Rue de la Lingerie, de la rue Berger" by Charles Marville, was taken sometime between the 1860s and 1870s. Looking at this black-and-white cityscape, I’m immediately struck by its stillness, a quietness despite it clearly depicting a public space. What captures your attention in this piece? Curator: Oh, this piece speaks to me of a city holding its breath, a moment snatched from the relentless churn of Parisian life. The soft, almost dreamy quality of the photography makes me feel like I am standing there myself, watching the light play on the cobblestones. You know, Marville wasn’t just documenting; he was curating, composing a visual poem about a city on the cusp of change. Does the emptiness resonate with you as well? It's almost eerie, don't you think, a street scene devoid of almost any activity? Editor: Absolutely, it's a ghostly sort of emptiness. It's like a stage set, waiting for the players to arrive. I know Marville was documenting Paris before Haussmann's renovations, so maybe it is something to do with the transition the city was in? Curator: Precisely! Marville captured a Paris that was about to vanish, streets that were about to be widened and transformed into boulevards. The muted tones only heighten that sense of ephemerality, of capturing something beautiful just before it fades away. Editor: It’s like he's immortalizing a memory. I definitely look at it differently now, thanks! Curator: My pleasure. I leave with the impression that sometimes the most profound stories are whispered in the quietest moments.