Flooding by the Seine 1893

Frits Thaulow made this painting of the Seine in Paris, using oil on canvas. We don’t know the precise date. But we might still ask what this image can tell us about the social context of its making. The painting shows us a city struggling with nature. The flooded river dominates the scene, turning streets into canals. But life continues – people still cross the bridge, smoke rises from chimneys. It reminds us that even in the face of natural disasters, society finds a way to carry on. What can explain this choice of subject? As historians, we might want to understand how this image relates to the rising interest in urban life among artists in late 19th-century Europe, and to the increasing awareness of environmental issues. By looking at other paintings, photographs, and newspaper accounts from the time, we can develop a better understanding of the social and institutional context that shaped this compelling image.