['General view', 'Palm tree square'] before 1886

Here are two photographs by Albert Courret in an album of the city of Hyères-les-Palmiers. Courret lived and worked in a period marked by French colonialism and orientalism. The album offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values and cultural priorities of the era, showcasing Hyères as a desirable destination. Palm trees, symbols of tropical or exotic landscapes, became a prominent feature, transforming Hyères into an idealized vision of the French Riviera. But who decides what is considered beautiful, and who benefits from these representations? This curated depiction might reflect a selective view of the city, one aimed at attracting tourists and investors while obscuring the realities of everyday life for its inhabitants. The tension between the constructed image and lived experience raises essential questions about identity, representation, and the power dynamics inherent in visual culture.