The Pont Neuf, Paris 1913

Auguste-Louis Lepère made this print of the Pont Neuf in Paris, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. It gives us a glimpse into the working river and the city’s oldest bridge, with a detailed depiction of the urban landscape and working class life. Lepère’s choice of the Pont Neuf, completed in 1607, is interesting. Unlike other Parisian bridges lined with houses, it was designed as a public space. In Lepère’s time, the bridge and surrounding area was a hub of commerce, transportation, and leisure. He shows the mix of people and activities, from the boats on the Seine to the figures along the riverbanks. The smoke rising from the boats also speaks to the industrial changes transforming Paris. To understand this image better, we can look at old photographs and maps, alongside newspaper accounts that document the changing nature of life and labor in Paris during this period. By placing the artwork in its social and institutional context, we can better understand its commentary on Parisian society.