The Palace of Women, Paris Exposition Universelle (Le Palais de la Femme)

Artist Albert Lévy (French, about 1847–1907)

Date1900

Mediumcyanotype

Dimensionssheet: 23.3 x 28.6 cm (9 3/16 x 11 1/4 in.)

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineGift from Mack and Paula Lee

Terms

Object number1996.10

Label TextAn innovator in the genre of architectural photography, Albert Lévy created an extensive catalog of American and European structures at the turn-of-the-century. Included among these are over one hundred photographs of the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. The building seen here served as the “Palace of Women” and was located on the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. This pavilion, the first dedicated to women, was designed by architect and archeologist Emmanuel Pontremoli. The first floor included a vast hall filled with paintings and sculptures by women artists. It also featured a reading room with literature by and for women. Thanks to Lévy’s use of large-format negatives, his photographs present an impressive degree of detail. He frequently printed his negatives as cyanotypes, likely due to the medium’s ease of use. The cyanotype’s distinctive blue hue helped Lévy distinguish his work from that of his peers. ProvenanceLee Gallery, Winchester, MA

On View

Not on view