Porte Jean Goujon van het Musée du Louvre te Parijs c. 1875 - 1900

Étienne Neurdein captured this photograph of the Porte Jean Goujon at the Louvre in Paris, using albumen print, a process that was popular in the 19th century. This technique involves coating paper with albumen from egg whites, then exposing it to light through a negative. The albumen print gives the photograph a soft, warm tone, enhancing the architectural details of the doorway. It’s a process that’s quite labor-intensive, requiring careful preparation and handling of materials. This contrasts with the industrial scale of the Louvre itself. The choice of photography as a medium to document architecture also speaks to a shift in how we understand art and craft. While the Louvre is filled with unique, hand-crafted artworks, this photograph presents a mass-producible image of it. Neurdein's work is part of a broader history of how mechanical reproduction changed our perception of cultural heritage, bringing it to a wider audience. By focusing on the materials and processes involved, we see how photography bridges the gap between traditional art and modern industry, democratizing access to iconic landmarks.