Place du Carrousel te Parijs, gezien vanaf het Palais des Tuileries before 1871

This stereoscopic photograph of the Place du Carrousel in Paris was made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy. The photograph offers a view from the Palais des Tuileries, capturing the grandeur of Parisian architecture and urban planning. This image presents a carefully constructed view of Parisian power and prestige. The Place du Carrousel, framed by the Tuileries Palace and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, symbolizes imperial ambition and dynastic continuity. Lamy's choice to photograph from behind an ornate iron railing subtly reinforces notions of privileged access and social hierarchy. This was a time of rapid social and political change, with the rise of the bourgeoisie and the legacy of revolution still fresh in collective memory. Photography itself was a relatively new medium and its use in depicting urban spaces reflects a desire to document and control the narrative of modernity. By examining photographs like this alongside archival documents, newspapers, and other cultural artifacts, we can gain a deeper understanding of how the city of Paris was imagined, experienced, and contested during this transformative period.