Bouw van de Pont Louis-Philippe in Parijs 1860 - 1862

Charles Nègre captured this stereoscopic photograph, ‘Construction of the Louis-Philippe Bridge in Paris’, using the waxed paper negative method. The image of Paris depicts the construction of a bridge that was originally built in the 1830s, but it was later rebuilt after suffering damages. It shows the social and institutional structure of Paris at the time: a modernising city, proud of its architecture and infrastructure. Bridges were not only transport links, they were also symbols of progress. The photograph provides insights into the labour and technology involved in such monumental projects, offering us a glimpse into the lives of the workers who shaped the city. To fully appreciate the context, historical archives, engineering records, and urban development plans from that time provide useful information. Examining Nègre’s other works and the broader context of early photography in France allows us to understand the intersection of art, technology, and social documentation.