Hoog water in de Seine in Parijs, op de voorgrond een kademuur 1910 - 1911

G. Dangereux captured this photograph, titled 'High Water in the Seine in Paris, with a Quay Wall in the Foreground', using an early photographic process. The absence of a specific date invites us to consider it as an emblem of recurring environmental challenges. The Seine, usually a central artery of Parisian life, is here transformed into an imposing force. The high water obscures familiar landmarks and disrupts the everyday rhythms of the city. This disruption brings to mind questions of class and access. In times of environmental crisis, the most vulnerable populations often bear the brunt. The photograph hints at the precariousness of urban life. It suggests how natural events can exacerbate existing inequalities. Consider the emotional weight of such an event, the anxiety and uncertainty it creates. This image serves as a reminder of the ever-present tension between human development and the forces of nature.