Militaire parade op een brug before 1885

Albert Londe made this photograph of a military parade on a bridge sometime around the turn of the century in France. As the title suggests, it depicts a military parade, likely in Paris, crossing a bridge over the Seine. Londe was part of a generation that saw photography transform from a niche practice to a mass medium, and his work, often depicting scenes of modern life, shows the medium's democratization. In France, the Third Republic saw the rise of a modern, secular state, with the military playing an increasingly important symbolic role. Military parades became a common sight in Paris, reflecting the national pride and aspirations of the time. Institutions such as the army or the illustrated press played a critical role in the rise of photography. To fully understand the significance of Londe's image, we can explore photographic archives, newspapers of the time, and military records. This provides a comprehensive picture of the social and institutional context in which the photograph was produced and consumed.