Visit to the Ideal Palace

In his photograph Visit to the Ideal Palace , Doisneau captures the naive architecture and its vegetation. The photographer seems to have been an admirer of the postman's work, having taken several shots portraying the monument and the Tombeau du Silence et du Repos Sans Fin (Tomb of Silence and Endless Rest), first in 1953 and then in the 1970s. Here, the angle of the shot allows us to make out the east facade of the palace alongside the corner of the north facade. Looking more closely, we can see the jagged outline of the palace, its towers, and its Egyptian pillars. Being hidden by large trees, the building seems to reveal a secret side to the location at the same time. At the center of the composition, a sand path appears, inviting us to take a step closer and marvel at its delights.