Gezicht in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, met het standbeeld van Jeanne d’Arc, Frankrijk c. 1900 - 1903

This vintage photograph captures a street view in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France, showcasing a statue of Jeanne d’Arc. The sepia tone evokes a sense of historical distance, while the symmetrical composition draws the eye directly to the statue at the vanishing point. The photograph's structure is built around a central perspective, using the converging lines of buildings to frame the statue of Jeanne d’Arc, thereby monumentalizing her figure. The muted tones and stark architectural lines, typical of early photography, give a somber, almost reverential quality. The lines created by the buildings not only guide the viewer's gaze but also instill a sense of order and historical permanence. In examining this photograph, we appreciate how its formal elements work to construct a narrative of French identity and historical memory, as well as the dialogue between the materiality of the photograph and the symbolic weight of its subject.