Gezicht op Parijs met de Notre-Dame en de Seine 1890 - 1898

This photograph, “View of Paris with Notre-Dame and the Seine,” was captured by Edouard Hautecoer. The composition is divided into horizontal layers: the Seine in the foreground, punctuated by bridges that lead the eye towards the city, and the skyline dominated by the Notre-Dame cathedral. The muted sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, typical of early photography. The image presents a structured urban landscape where architecture and nature meet, creating a balance between the built environment and the natural flow of the river. The photograph’s perspective flattens the city, turning buildings into patterns of light and shadow. The Seine acts as a mirror, reflecting the urban environment and reinforcing a sense of order. This representation of Paris can be seen as a commentary on the 19th-century urban planning, which aimed to impose rationality and order on the chaotic city. It invites us to consider how the photographic medium not only captures reality but also interprets and structures our understanding of it.