Égouts De Paris 1861

This is one of Félix Nadar’s photographs of the Paris sewers. It gives us a glimpse into the underbelly of 19th-century Parisian society. Nadar was commissioned to document this engineering marvel, completed in 1868. But this image is more than just a technical record. It uses the visual codes of high art to make this underground space look both monumental and strangely beautiful. You can see that the photograph is not just about pipes and drains, but also about celebrating France's industrial progress. Consider that the sewers of Paris were a place of both human labor and disease. This image, made during a period of rapid industrialization and urbanization, speaks to the social conditions of its time. It subtly critiques the institutions that both produce and conceal these hidden realities. To fully appreciate this image, research into the social history of Paris during this period is helpful. Nadar's photographs, when seen through the lens of history, provide a unique insight into the politics of imagery and the public role of art.