Rue des Lombards, from the rue des Lavandières Sainte-Opportune 1864

Curator: Charles Marville captured this view of the Rue des Lombards from Rue des Lavandières Sainte-Opportune in 1864. This silver print provides a glimpse into the changing urban fabric of Paris during the Second Empire. Editor: It feels almost ghostly. The narrow street disappearing into the fog, the tall buildings leaning in...there's a real sense of isolation, even with hints of commerce and daily life. Curator: That atmosphere is intentional, I think. Marville was commissioned to document the city before Haussmann’s grand renovations reshaped it. This photograph acts as a record of a soon-to-be-vanished Paris, those pre-modern alleyways that fostered particular kinds of social interactions. Editor: The image certainly makes you wonder about the people who lived and worked here, their relationship to this space. Were these tight-knit communities uprooted and displaced by the modernization? It is interesting to wonder if their stories were documented and if there were cultural costs of that so-called progress? Curator: Exactly! Consider also, what kind of stories is he choosing to include, and exclude? Editor: Absolutely. I see an absence of human presence. Is this simply because of the long exposure times required at the time? The nearly empty streets raise further questions for me; does this image serve a function for a certain demographic of people, perhaps idealizing a certain solitude? Curator: Perhaps... And let's also look at what he emphasizes, such as the facades and street signage. He turns the photograph into a kind of inventory. His work gained considerable recognition, it was used by municipalities who would track property values...a direct effect in the development of Paris into a hub of trade and finance. Editor: Looking at the built environment from today's perspective, you are correct, the photograph speaks volumes, and even echoes into the current moment! Curator: A truly invaluable document for historical context and artistic merit!