Gezicht op Boulogne-sur-Mer before 1886

This photograph, titled ‘View of Boulogne-sur-Mer’ was captured by an anonymous photographer, N.C.. In this image, we see a panoramic view of a bustling port city in northern France. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this image provides insight into the socio-economic landscape of the time. The image presents a modern, industrialised society, with its complex transportation infrastructure and busy harbour. Boulogne-sur-Mer was a vital port for trade and transport. This photograph might have served to promote economic growth, and national pride. As art historians, our task is to understand how such images participate in shaping social attitudes. We might research the economic history of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the development of photography as a tool for documentation and propaganda, and the cultural values of the time. By doing so, we can reveal the complex interplay between art, society, and power.