Kar in ondergelopen straat tijdens overstroming van Parijs 1910 - 1911

G. Dangereux captured this image of a flooded street in Paris, using a camera, sometime in the early 20th century. The photograph depicts a working class Parisian neighborhood transformed by the floodwaters. The water reflects the buildings, blurring the line between the built environment and the natural world. A cart sits idle, half-submerged, a testament to the disruption of daily life. The image serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of urban populations to natural disasters and the social inequalities that are often exacerbated during such crises. Looking at this photo through a social historical lens, we can consider the institutional responses to such events. Were there adequate systems in place to support those most affected? Did the disaster prompt social reforms or changes in urban planning? These are the questions that social historians ask when faced with an image like this. By studying the social conditions that shape artistic production, we gain a deeper appreciation of the public role of art and the politics of imagery.