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Inside the Amphitheatre, Nismes

European

Artwork Details

Inside the Amphitheatre, Nismes
mid-19th century
European
albumen print on paper
8 ⅜ in x 11 in (21.27 cm x 27.94 cm);16 in x 20 ⅛ in (40.64 cm x 51.12 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. W. Howard Bond
1980/2.223

Description

Subject Matter:

Probably produced for a tourist market, this anonymous photograph of the Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, France offers a fascinating view of the ancient structure from within. The photographer appears to have been perched on an upper platform inside the amphitheatre, such that the circular structure radiates concentrically outwards from the lower center margin. The translation of the different materials of the theatre into black and white photography, from the pale gray dirt floor, to the light stone seating, and finally the slightly darker architraves and city beyond, create three distinct zones of tonal shading that contribute to the abstract effect of the image.

Physical Description:

Photograph of an ancient amphitheatre, viewed from above.

Usage Rights:

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