Tour St. Jacques, Paris c. 1860s

This albumen print captures the Tour St. Jacques in Paris, a solitary gothic tower, its photographer remains unknown. The image encapsulates the 19th-century fascination with architectural marvels, framed through the lens of emerging photographic technology. Consider how the photographer, though anonymous, consciously chose this angle, emphasizing the tower's height. Its gothic style speaks to a desire to preserve and monumentalize the past. In a rapidly modernizing Paris, the tower stands as a testament to history, and the social values attached to tradition. The choice of photography itself as a medium is significant. Photography democratized image-making. For the first time, people from various social strata could access and own representations of iconic landmarks. What do you feel when considering the countless, unknown individuals who gazed upon this tower, both in person and through images like this? This photograph invites us to reflect on the intersection of history, representation, and personal experience.