Gezicht op Québec before 1894

This photograph, "Gezicht op Québec," was created by Jules-Ernest Livernois; a reflection of late 19th-century Quebec through the lens of a local photographer. Livernois captures Quebec City from an elevated vantage point, likely near the Citadelle, emphasizing the urban layout and its relationship to the natural landscape of the St. Lawrence River. The image presents a contrast between the imposing military architecture and the dense civilian settlement. This juxtaposition prompts consideration of the power dynamics inherent in colonial cityscapes and the layered histories of conquest and settlement that define Quebec. Livernois, operating within a society undergoing significant cultural and linguistic tensions between its French and English populations, positions himself as a visual chronicler of Quebec's unique identity. His work then becomes an assertion of cultural pride, a means of preserving a visual record of a rapidly changing urban environment. Ultimately, this photograph is more than a landscape; it's an invitation to contemplate the complex interplay of history, identity, and representation in a place marked by cultural negotiation and resilience.