Façade van een woonhuis in Parijs before 1880

This photograph, ‘Facade van een woonhuis in Parijs,’ was created by Lampué et Cie. It’s tempting to see this photograph simply as an architectural study, but I think it offers us a chance to reflect on the intersection of space, class, and identity. In late 19th and early 20th century Paris, the architecture of private residences was designed to signal social status and wealth. The elaborate facade, the meticulously maintained ivy, even the height of the building, all spoke to a narrative of privilege. Who occupied this space? How did its design reflect or perhaps dictate their daily lives and interactions? As viewers, what assumptions do we bring to this image based on its architecture? The home becomes a stage upon which narratives of class and social standing are enacted.