Chateau de Murol en Auvergne Possibly 1852 - 1978

Édouard Baldus made this photograph of the Château de Murol in Auvergne. The image is full of atmosphere, like the scene from a gothic novel. It’s a steep climb to the castle, and you can see the whole village laid out on the slope. The light in the photo is so soft, the castle on the hill looks majestic. But, you can see the rough stones. Baldus, the photographer, must have seen something special. The way the buildings blend into the landscape feels like a painting. I wonder what it was like to stand there with his camera, waiting for the light to be just right. Did he imagine people living in the castle? How they watched the land from above? Did he think about how we’d be looking at his picture so many years later? I hope he did!