Amiens, portail
Eugène Atget
French, 1857–1927
Before 1900
An albumen silver print by Eugène Atget that calmly records the three richly carved Gothic portals of Amiens Cathedral, made as part of his project to catalogue and preserve architectural details of Old France.
What strikes you is the rhythmic procession of sculpted figures and the deep, patterned recesses of the central tympanum framed by pointed arches whose tracery makes heavy stone read like delicate lace.
Atget’s austere architectural photographs helped establish documentary photography as a way to preserve urban memory and decorative workmanship at a moment of rapid change, later influencing modern and Surrealist artists.
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Approx. 7 1/16 × 8 9/16" (18 × 21.8 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Abbott-Levy Collection. Acquired through the generosity of Shirley C. Burden, and Family of Man Fund
Accession
1.1969.3143
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
