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In Praise of Shadows | Château de Versailles

Every time a new king took the French throne, the Château de Versailles was remodeled, the new monarch’s power flaunted in the details that had been altered and replaced to create another layer. Gazing thoughtfully at the vestiges of this incomparable splendor, we get images of the different reigns. While we delight in the seemingly unimaginable decorativeness, the accumulation of the latest techniques of its age, we also realize the human exploitation that resulted in such opulence. Where, we wonder, did this elegance come from? Morita’s photography seeks to capture his own themes of “desire” and “primal instinct.” There is nowhere else more suited to this objective than the Château de Versailles. The stone staircase is worn down, as though holding the memory of all the people who climbed it.

All photos
© Yasumichi Morita/Château de Versailles

  •
    Detail from the Gate of Honour
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Detail from the Gate of Honour
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Lock on the bedchamber of Louis XV
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Lock on the bedchamber of Louis XV
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Motifs adorning the ceiling of Louis XV’s bedchamber
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Motifs adorning the ceiling of Louis XV’s bedchamber
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Key in the door of the Despatches Room
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Key in the door of the Despatches Room
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Organ played by the Dauphin (heir) of Louis XV
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Organ played by the Dauphin (heir) of Louis XV
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Spiral staircase known as the “Forge Staircase”
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Spiral staircase known as the “Forge Staircase”
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Bannister decoration on the grand staircase in the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Bannister decoration on the grand staircase in the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Sundial
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Sundial
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Clock in Madame Victoire’s room
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Clock in Madame Victoire’s room
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Chest of drawers decorated with lion’s claw feet
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Chest of drawers decorated with lion’s claw feet
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Rug from Madame Adélaïde’s chamber
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Rug from Madame Adélaïde’s chamber
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Bathtub
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Bathtub
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Fireplace
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Fireplace
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Motif on large barometer
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Motif on large barometer
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Parquet floor
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Parquet floor
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Bar indicating the passage of the meridian
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Bar indicating the passage of the meridian
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Spiral staircase in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Spiral staircase in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Motif from the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Motif from the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    55.5 x 37.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    150.0 x 100.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    150.0 x 100.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • View from the Royal Box, the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
    View from the Royal Box, the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Opera Theatre
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Opera Theatre
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Backstage at the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Backstage at the Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    102.0 x 68.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Hall of Mirrors
    Piezography
    114.0 x 76.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Wall decor
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Wall decor
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Doors of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Doors of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Motifs on the ceiling of The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Motifs on the ceiling of The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Altar of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Altar of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Altar of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Altar of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Organ in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Organ in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    93.0 x 62.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Window in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Window in the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Columns of the Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Columns of the Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Stone Galleries
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Stone Galleries
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Cobblestones
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Cobblestones
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Engineering under the Fountains
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Engineering under the Fountains
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Bathtub relocated to the Orangerie
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Bathtub relocated to the Orangerie
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Superstructure of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Superstructure of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The Dauphin's Room
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Dauphin's Room
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • South Wing
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
    South Wing
    Piezography
    75.0 x 50.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Louis XVI Dining Room
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Louis XVI Dining Room
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Spiral Staircase
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Spiral Staircase
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • The “King’s Staircase”
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The “King’s Staircase”
    Piezography
    129.0 x 86.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Statue of Latona
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Statue of Latona
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Statue of “Religion”
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Statue of “Religion”
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Statue of Ceres
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Statue of Ceres
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Stone statues
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Stone statues
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Queen’s Theater
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Queen’s Theater
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Bedchamber, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Bedchamber, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Library, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Library, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Underfloor structure with movable mirrors, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Underfloor structure with movable mirrors, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Sketch on the wall of the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Sketch on the wall of the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Emblem on the reception room of the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Emblem on the reception room of the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Roof of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Staircase balustrade, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Staircase balustrade, the Petit Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The ceiling of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
    The ceiling of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
  • Engravings on the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
    Engravings on the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
  • The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
    The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
  • Engravings on the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
    Engravings on the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    42.0 x 59.4cm
  • The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Opera
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Entrance to the underground pumping system
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Entrance to the underground pumping system
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Underground pipes forming part of the pumping system
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Marble courtyard
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Marble courtyard
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Motif on large barometer
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Motif on large barometer
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Louis XV’s Cylinder Desk
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Louis XV’s Cylinder Desk
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Bidet chair
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Bidet chair
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Chair Chamber
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Chair Chamber
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Paintings in the Dauphin’s bedroom
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Paintings in the Dauphin’s bedroom
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Bathtub
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Bathtub
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Bar indicating the passage of the meridian
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Bar indicating the passage of the meridian
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Parquet floor
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Parquet floor
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    The Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • Cooling Units installed in the Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
    Cooling Units installed in the Grand Trianon Palace
    Piezography
    29.7 x 21.0cm
  • The Grand Cabinet of Madame du Barry
    Piezography
    86.0 x 129.0cm
    Edition of 5
    The Grand Cabinet of Madame du Barry
    Piezography
    86.0 x 129.0cm
    Edition of 5
  • Exterior view of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    86.0 x 129.0cm
    Edition of 5
    Exterior view of the Royal Chapel
    Piezography
    86.0 x 129.0cm
    Edition of 5