Publiek rondom een automobiel in L'Escarène 1903

This photograph captures a crowd gathered around an automobile in L'Escarène, and was created by Delizy. Although undated, we can assume it was taken sometime after the invention of the automobile, which provides a snapshot into a world undergoing rapid technological change. Look closely and you’ll notice the crowd is primarily composed of working-class individuals, dressed in simple clothing. The way the crowd is assembled shows us the social dynamics of the time. Cars were a luxury, so observing the vehicle became a communal event, an exciting interruption in the daily lives of working-class people. The image subtly touches on themes of class and access, as the spectacle of technology becomes a shared, yet unequal, experience. This photograph is a meditation on the experience of witnessing change and it invites us to reflect on our own relationship with progress and community.