Allumeur de réverbères, place de la Concorde 1933

Brassai’s photograph, “Allumeur de réverbères, place de la Concorde” captures a lamplighter at work, likely made with a gelatin silver process. The print’s monochrome palette emphasizes the textures of the Parisian night, the cobblestone street, and the solid, cast-iron lampposts. The image documents a moment in the city's transition to modernity, where manual labor met technological advancement. Each lamppost demanded the physical presence of a worker, repeating the same task over and over, engaging with a now-obsolete technology. Consider the labor involved, the repetitive task of lighting each lamp, and the social context of urban life in the pre-electrification era. Brassai, like many photographers, found beauty and significance in everyday subjects. This image challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and documentation, inviting us to consider the social and material conditions that shape our world. It's a reminder that the art of making is not limited to the artist's studio but extends to the streets and the hands of those who shape our environment.