Nadar at Place De L'opéra 

This is a photograph by Félix Nadar, showing a man in Place de l'Opéra in Paris. Though undated, it likely comes from the late 19th century. Nadar’s picture offers us more than just a portrait of a Parisian gentleman in his finery. The imposing Opéra Garnier in the background was a potent symbol of state power, commissioned by Napoleon III and completed in 1875. It was an emblem of Paris’s ambitious reconstruction. This photograph thus speaks to the relationship between individual identity and the grand urban schemes that shaped modern life. Nadar’s choice to show a man smoking, highlights a new, modern, more informal sensibility. This contrasts sharply with the rigid formality of the opera house. To fully appreciate this image, we can consult archives, newspapers and architectural plans. These kinds of resources help us decode the social codes of the time and the dialogue between tradition and modernity.