Gezicht op Fontaine des Tritons in jardin Albert-Ier c. 1872

This albumen print of the Fontaine des Tritons in the Jardin Albert I in Nice was created by Eugène Degand in the late nineteenth century. It captures a moment in the history of the French Riviera as it was being transformed into a fashionable resort for the European elite. Degand's photograph provides insight into the cultural values and social dynamics of the time. The presence of a lone figure, likely a member of the bourgeoisie, quietly enjoying the manicured landscape, speaks volumes about the exclusivity and privilege associated with leisure in this environment. The Jardin Albert I, named after King Albert I of Belgium, was designed to cater to the tastes of the upper classes. To understand the image fully, one might consult period guidebooks, social histories of the French Riviera, and archives documenting the development of tourism. By contextualizing the work within its original setting, we appreciate how the image reflects the social structures of its time.