Mensen bekijken de hoge waterstand van de Seine tijdens de overstroming van Parijs 1910 - 1911

G. Dangereux captured this small photograph of the Seine river flooding in Paris. The photograph itself is a product of chemical processes and optics. The making of this image may seem far removed from tangible crafts like ceramics or woodworking. However, consider photography as a craft of light and chemistry. This was cutting-edge at the time, but now, the proliferation of digital imagery gives us a sense of the social and cultural contexts of its making. Looking at the attire of the figures, we get a sense of the socio-economic context. These were likely members of the middle and upper classes, who had both the leisure to observe the flood and the means to access photographic services. The image captures a moment of disruption in the urban landscape, but also highlights the social divisions of the time. It reminds us that the effects of environmental events are rarely felt equally across society.