Place de l'Opéra, plate seventeen from Le Long de la Seine et des Boulevards Possibly 1890 - 1910

Auguste-Louis Lepère created this print of the Place de l’Opéra in Paris as part of a series documenting the city's boulevards. The image depicts a bustling Parisian scene, showcasing the architecture and social life of the era. Lepère made this print at a time when Paris was undergoing significant urban development. The construction of the Opéra Garnier and the surrounding boulevards was part of a larger effort to modernize the city, led by Baron Haussmann. This transformation had a profound impact on Parisian society, altering patterns of commerce, social interaction, and political power. Lepère’s print captures the energy of this changing urban landscape, showing horse-drawn carriages and people going about their daily routines. To understand the print fully, we can draw on many historical resources, from city plans to newspaper accounts, to understand its social and institutional context. This reminds us that the meaning of art is always shaped by the world in which it is created and viewed.