Ancien Amphitheatre Saint-Côme rue de l'Ecole de Médecine
Eugène Atget
French, 1857–1927
1899-1900
An albumen silver–print photograph by Eugène Atget that records the entrance of the old Saint‑Côme amphitheater, made to document Paris’s built details and everyday façades before they vanished.
You'd first notice the quiet, slightly theatrical composition—the arched doorway framed by columns and a wrought‑iron balcony, potted plants and a lone baby carriage on cobbled pavement bathed in soft, sepia‑toned light.
Part of Atget’s systematic inventory of turn‑of‑the‑century Paris, this image helped establish documentary photography as both an artistic and historical practice and later inspired avant‑garde artists to see the ordinary as worth preserving.
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Approx. 8 11/16 × 6 9/16" (22 × 16.7 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Abbott-Levy Collection. Acquired through the generosity of Shirley C. Burden, and Family of Man Fund
Accession
1.1969.4422
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
