Overstroomd gebied in Parijs gezien vanaf een trap 1910 - 1911

This image shows a flooded area in Paris, captured from a staircase, by G. Dangereux. The sepia tones create an atmosphere of melancholy. I'm standing on these steps with the photographer, looking out over the water that has risen so high. What was it like to be Dangereux, the artist, making the decision to frame the scene from above, capturing both the disaster and the ordinary staircase? In terms of painting, this makes me think about how we choose our vantage points – a high angle, a low one, close up, far away. Each choice changes the narrative. I wonder what other images Dangereux made, and how they converse with the work of other artists documenting city life. It all adds to an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, inspiring new creativity and new perspectives.