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Versailles, Chaste Venus
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During the first quarter of the 20th century, Eugène Atget photographed the French urban experience. Periodically, from 1901 to 1926, Atget was particularly attracted to the grounds and gardens at the palace of Versailles, photographing its walks, fountains, and statues during different seasons. An eerie silence and mysteriousness frequently suffuses his images, as it does in this haunting photograph of Antoine Coysevox's bronze sculpture of Venus, positioned on a raised plinth facing the palace's garden facade. With the placement of his camera, Atget brought a carefully ordered harmony to the composition through the alignment of various architectural and sculptural elements.
| Artist / Maker | Eugène Atget |
|---|---|
| Date | 1922–1923 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 20th century |
| Medium | albumen print, gold toned |
| Dimensions | Image: 18.1 x 22.6 cm (7 1/8 x 8 7/8 in.); Matted: 35.6 x 45.7 cm (14 x 18 in.) |
| Department | Photography |
| Type | Photograph |
About the Artist
Eugène Atget French, 1857-1927 Relatively unknown to the public during his lifetime, Eugène Atget is today an icon -- one of the most celebrated and influential photographers of the 20th century. Born near Bordeaux, Atget first directed his efforts to painting and the stage before turning to photography shortly before 1890. He is best known for his documentary scenes of Paris and Versailles, but he photographed a number of other sites as well. Atget viewed his work as a historical… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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