Gezicht op de Arc de Triomphe in Parijs c. 1855 - 1860

This photograph depicts the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and was likely made in the 19th century. Built between 1806 and 1836, the Arc was initially conceived as a celebration of Napoleon's military victories. The image is inscribed with the name of an optician, which might suggest its function as a souvenir or advertisement, reflecting the rise of commercial photography and mass tourism in Paris at the time. As a public monument, the Arc de Triomphe embodies specific political and social values relating to nationalism and military power. It is a highly controlled image, and the control that goes into its creation and distribution makes it important to consider the ways in which institutional and economic factors shape the production and circulation of images of public monuments like this. To fully understand the meanings of the image, we need to turn to primary resources to place it in its proper social and institutional context. The photograph raises questions about the relationship between art, commerce, and national identity in 19th-century France.