Inondations de Paris (Janvier 1910). - Avenue Montaigne 1910

Léon & Lévy captured this postcard photograph of the 1910 Paris flood on Avenue Montaigne. This disaster took place during La Belle Époque, a time of optimism and economic prosperity in France, and the photograph offers a glimpse into the stark realities that existed even during that period. The image shows men in boats navigating the flooded streets, a scene that underscores the disruption of daily life and the challenges faced by Parisians. Consider the class dynamics at play here: Who owned boats? Who was able to navigate the flood for leisure, and who was displaced and struggling to survive? The photograph speaks to the vulnerability of urban life and the disparities within society. There is a quiet emotional dimension, a sense of displacement and the fragility of human existence in the face of natural disaster. The image invites us to reflect on our relationship with the environment and the ways in which social inequalities are magnified during times of crisis.