Catacombes De Paris 1861

This photograph of the Catacombs of Paris was taken by Felix Nadar, though the exact date is unknown. It uses the then-new medium of photography to explore both the physical and social depths of 19th-century Paris. The image reveals the ossuary, created in the late 1700s to address overflowing cemeteries. By the 19th century, the catacombs had become a tourist destination and a space for official display, as we can see from the carefully arranged bones. But this photograph by Nadar is distinct for another reason: it was one of the first to use artificial light underground. The photograph’s use of light challenges us to consider what was being revealed, and for whom. Looking at Nadar's work, one can research the photographic techniques of the era, the social history of Paris, and the macabre fascination with death that was part of the 19th-century culture. This image reminds us that art is not made in a vacuum, but reflects a specific time, place, and set of social conditions.