Gezicht op de Pointe de Rauba-Capèu bij Nice c. 1870 - 1900

The Neurdein Frères made this albumen print of the Pointe de Rauba-Capèu near Nice. This image is a window into the rapidly changing social landscape of late 19th-century Europe. It presents a picturesque view of the French Riviera, which became a playground for the European elite and the burgeoning middle class, thanks to the expansion of railways and the rise of tourism. Note the architectural interventions along the cliffside, likely related to the construction of villas or hotels catering to wealthy tourists. The composition, with its dramatic coastline and diffused lighting, romanticizes the natural landscape while subtly hinting at the encroachment of modern development. To fully understand this image, we would need to delve into archives of tourism boards, railway companies, and urban planning documents. Through those records, we can reveal the complex relationship between nature, commerce, and social class that defined this era.