Latonavijver in de tuin van Versailles 1887 - 1900

Editor: Here we have an albumen print from sometime between 1887 and 1900, showing the Latona Fountain in the gardens of Versailles, by X phot. I’m struck by the formality of it all – the rigid geometry of the hedges and the monumental scale of the fountain. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, Versailles. It always whispers of power and control to me, doesn’t it? That Latona Fountain, caught in this soft, almost dreamy sepia tone, feels like a memory. But it's a carefully constructed memory, isn’t it? Editor: Constructed how? Curator: Well, consider the vantage point. Elevated, almost detached. We are positioned to survey the scene, not engage with it. We are reminded of the order and precision imposed upon nature. I see echoes of the King's ambition in every precise angle. Don't you find it interesting that the human presence is so small, almost incidental? Editor: Yes, it does put everything in perspective. I’m seeing a story about human ambition set against this incredible landscape. Did this photographer do other work around landscape design? Curator: Perhaps the photographer was attempting to capture an era defined by the powerful impression it leaves us, even now. Editor: Thank you for showing me how even a seemingly straightforward landscape photo can reveal so much about history, power, and control. It definitely changed my perspective.