Eugène Atget’s Epic Record of Time and Place

The New Yorker

by Hilton Als

March 2, 2026

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Eugène Atget’s photography offers a unique lens through which to view Paris, capturing its essence with an unfiltered precision that transcends mere documentation. His work, on display in the exhibit *Eugène Atget: The Making of a Reputation* at the International Center of Photography, challenges the notion of sentimentality often imposed on his art by curators and historians. Instead of framing him as a poetic outsider, the exhibition lets Atget’s images speak for themselves, highlighting their modernist qualities and ability to transform the mundane into something extraordinary. Atget’s career began in Paris in the late 19th century, a time marked by significant cultural shifts. Born an orphan in 1857, he grew up to study classics before pursuing a career as a sailor and later an actor. His eventual transition to photography was unconventional, yet it allowed him to document the city with a meticulous eye for detail that rejected hierarchies of visual experience. This approach is what makes his work modern: he treated both grand architecture and ordinary street scenes with equal attention, flattening distinctions between high and low. Curator David Campany’s exhibition avoids over-romanticizing Atget, instead letting the photographer’s specificity shine through. While some might soften his work to make it more relatable, Campany opts for a restrained presentation that respects the integrity of Atget’s vision. This commitment to authenticity ensures that the exhibition not only honors Atget’s legacy but also invites viewers to engage with his art on its own terms. For those interested in culture and photography, Atget’s work matters because it challenges us to rethink how we perceive beauty and meaning in art. His refusal to conform to traditional narratives about Paris—whether romantic or poetic—resonates today, as it reminds us that the value of an image lies not in its sentimentality but in its ability to reflect the world as it is. Atget’s photographs are a testament to this idea, offering a fresh perspective on the interplay between time and place, and how art can capture both the extraordinary and the everyday with equal poignancy. In an era where photography continues to evolve, Atget’s work stands out for its simplicity and depth. His ability to find beauty in the overlooked reminds us that art is not just about grand gestures but also about seeing the world with a clear, unfiltered gaze. The exhibition at I.C.P. ensures that his contribution to modern photography is

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Originally published on The New Yorker on 3/2/2026