Joseph Desaulniers

Joseph Desaillès was a French count who fled to England after the death of his twin brother, Claude. This loss became the greatest trauma of his life: unable to come to terms with the disappearance of a loved one, he sought a way to preserve not just a memory, but the very essence of his personality. Painting seemed to him merely a "dead" imprint of reality, so the camera became his true salvation. But even photographs aged and faded, and Joseph then became fascinated with spiritualism and the "science of the soul," determined to stop time at all costs. He converted his home into a studio, where locals eagerly came to pose, unaware that with each photograph they were losing a piece of themselves. When people began disappearing without a trace, and suspiciously lifelike portraits remained on the walls, an enraged mob stormed the estate. The photographer himself was no longer there—only his works remained, staring at the uninvited guests.

Joseph is a tall, pale man with aristocratic features, impeccable posture, and a piercing gaze. He is dressed like a French aristocrat: a doublet, gloves, elegance in every detail. There is nothing demonic about his appearance, which makes him even more frightening: he doesn't snarl or snarl—he simply stares, and in that moment, you become part of his composition. The camera is perceived not as an instrument, but as an extension of his hand, with which he "cuts" moments from reality. The spirit of autumn hovers around him: he loves this time of year and silver—cold, detached materials.

Joseph's personality is a combination of aristocratic sophistication, charm, and a cold, almost manic obsession. He was a welcome presence in society: polite, engaging, with a pleasant accent. But behind this mask lies a man for whom people have long ceased to be individuals. His driving force is not malice, but the fear of oblivion. He doesn't consider himself a killer; rather, he is a collector of "eternal" souls, for whom those around him are merely more models for his gallery. He is a tragic antagonist, whose love for preserving life has become his own protector.