Arts et Métiers (Ancien Modèle) 1864

Charles Marville made this photograph, "Arts et Métiers (Ancien Modèle)," sometime in the mid-19th century. The image depicts a Parisian streetscape defined by the ironwork of a bridge and the ornate gas lamps that line the canal. Marville was employed by the city of Paris to document the areas slated for demolition during Haussmann's urban renewal project. The photograph is not simply a record of a place but an exploration of the social and institutional forces shaping Paris at that time. The "ancien modèle" in the title suggests an awareness of the changing urban landscape, nodding toward the tension between old and new. The image thus serves as a commentary on the rapid modernization, and its impact on the city's historical character. Further historical investigation could reveal much about the motivations of both the photographer and the institutions he served, providing greater insight into the complex relationship between art, politics, and urban development in 19th-century Paris.