Photographic Self-Portrait In The Catacombs Of Paris 1861

This self-portrait was taken by Felix Nadar in the Catacombs of Paris, likely in the late 1850s or 1860s, during a time of immense social and technological change. Nadar was a pioneer in the use of artificial light for photography, and this image showcases his innovation and his commitment to capturing the unseen. Here, Nadar situates himself amongst the remains of over six million people moved to the catacombs from Parisian cemeteries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries due to sanitation concerns. The bones—the literal foundations of Parisian history—become a stage for Nadar’s self-representation. Nadar was more than just a photographer; he was a caricaturist, an inventor, and an adventurer. He saw photography as a means of exploring and documenting the world, as well as a form of personal expression. As we gaze at this image, we must consider our relationship to history, to memory, and to the countless stories embedded within the bones beneath our feet. Nadar invites us to reflect on the past, and on the enduring power of the photographic image to capture our imaginations.