Avignon 1859 - 1861

Edouard Baldus created this photograph titled, "Avignon," around 1855 using a salted paper process. The sepia tones create a sense of timelessness. Horizontally, the composition is divided into three distinct bands: the sky, the city, and its watery reflection. Baldus masterfully uses the geometry of architectural forms to evoke a sense of stability. Notice the robust city walls contrasted against the delicate reflections in the water. This contrast is not merely aesthetic; it suggests a dialogue between permanence and transience, structure and fluidity. The linear perspective draws the eye toward the center of the image, highlighting the city's towers. These vertical elements disrupt the horizontal stability, introducing a dynamic tension. Baldus prompts us to consider how we perceive and construct the world around us.