Liam Otero, author of the Art & Ponder Substack, published an essay discussing Monument Historique: 19th Century Photographs by Séraphin-Médéric Mieusement and Other French Photographers. Otero follows the exhibition's exploration into the art historical moment and the evolving role of photography during the 19th century.
"It must be underscored that Westwood Gallery’s role in acquiring Mieusement’s albums contributed to a renewed interest in his architectural photographs of France’s glorious sites. Without the interventions of Cavello, Almeida, and the entire staff of Westwood Gallery, a massive lacuna would have remained in photography’s history; considering the original collector did not find much merit in the albums, there is a possibility that, without Cavello’s purchasing, Mieusement’s work would have remained unnoticed and unappreciated. Monument Historique now provides a gorgeous glimpse into every corner of France at a transitional moment between the immediate post-Revolutionary decades and the ascendence of La Belle Époque."
