Elevation of the Façade of the Marché à la Volaille, Quai des Grands Augustins, Paris 1700 - 1800

Célestin-Joseph Happe created this drawing of the façade of a poultry market in Paris. While undated, the drawing speaks to important trends in late 18th-century and early 19th-century France. The drawing, typical of architectural renderings of the period, evokes the spirit of the Enlightenment and its preoccupation with order and reason. The building's symmetrical design and neoclassical elements reflect a desire for civic improvement and efficiency. Such markets played a crucial role in the social and economic life of Paris, centralizing trade and ensuring the provision of essential goods to its growing population. Historical records, architectural plans, and period newspapers can help us further understand the market's function and the social context in which it operated. This drawing provides a window into a time of great change, when the city's infrastructure and social institutions were being reshaped to meet the demands of a modernizing society.