View of Angoulême

Paul Michel Hossard was an amateur daguerreotypist, especially noted for his architectural views. Rather than depicting a famous monument or landmark, this informal composition captures the charm of courtyards and houses in a small city in western France. The dominant horizontal lines of the buildings are contrasted with the soft, organic forms of the foliage. The presence of a breeze is suggested by the slight blurring of the tallest trees—the result of the long exposure time needed to make this image.