Kinderen op mechanische hobbelpaarden in het Jardin du Luxembourg c. 1900

This albumen print, made by Eugène Atget in Paris, shows children on mechanical horse rides in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Atget meticulously documented the streets of Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, amassing a vast archive of images. The photo's muted tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, while the subject speaks to the changing social landscape of Paris. Leisure activities like these rides were becoming more accessible to the growing middle class. We see fashionably dressed women, children, and a man observing them. Atget’s photography provides invaluable insights into the visual culture of a bygone era. His work reminds us that the meaning of art is not fixed. It is continually reshaped by the social and institutional contexts in which it is encountered. To fully appreciate his work, one must consider his place in the artistic landscape of the time. Researching his life and the social conditions in Paris can enhance our understanding of his photographs.