Versailles, Grand Triannon (Buffet par Mansard) 1902

This photograph of the Grand Trianon's buffet was taken at Versailles by Eugène Atget. There is something very painterly about this image. It reminds me of Gerhard Richter’s blurry photographs, but from a different era. The mottled surface and limited tonal range produce a hazy atmosphere, turning stone into something soft and yielding. The overall effect is subtle, almost monochromatic, and this creates a beautiful sense of depth. The dark pool in the foreground mirrors the structure, blurring its sharp edges. The ornate details of the fountain become softened, like ghostly remnants of a bygone era. The leafless trees are like a scratched out drawing, a background texture that flattens the space. Atget’s approach reminds me of the Bechers' typologies, but with more feeling. It’s a beautiful, quiet, and contemplative image of a grand historical monument, full of stillness and melancholy.