Koorstoelen in de Saint-Denisbasiliek te Parijs c. 1875 - 1900

Médéric Mieusement made this albumen print of the choir stalls in the Saint-Denis Basilica in Paris, sometime in the late 19th century. The image presents us with an ornately carved wooden structure within a sacred space, but it also prompts questions about the role of photography in documenting and interpreting cultural heritage. This photograph offers insight into the cultural and institutional contexts of both the basilica and the medium of photography itself. The Saint-Denis Basilica holds immense historical significance as the burial site of French royalty and a symbol of French national identity. Mieusement, working in France, captures not only the physical presence of the choir stalls but also the aura of tradition, power, and religious authority associated with the basilica. The photograph serves as a visual record of a specific time and place, but also suggests a sense of reverence for the past. To fully understand this image, we might consult architectural records, historical accounts of the basilica, and studies of 19th-century photography. These resources would shed light on the social, cultural, and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.