Vuurtoren van Baleines before 1883

This photograph of the Baleines Lighthouse was printed in France as part of a series documenting public works. The lighthouse is more than just a building; it is an emblem of centralized authority, embodying the state's power to shape the environment. Built between 1849 and 1854, it speaks to France's ambition to modernize its infrastructure in the 19th century. The stark geometry and the tower's imposing height speak to the rationalism of the period. By offering safe passage to ships, this lighthouse played a critical role in the expansion of maritime trade, which would have been essential to France's economic growth during the 1800s. As a social historian, I see this image as a document ripe with meaning. To truly understand it, we might delve into archives, study engineering plans, and explore economic reports. Through such research, we start to see the lighthouse as a symbol of its time, shaped by the culture and institutions that brought it into being.