Gezicht op de Estérel, gezien vanaf het strand van Cannes 1863 - 1891

This photograph, "View of the Estérel, seen from the beach of Cannes," was captured by the Neurdein Frères. The image invites us to consider the social and economic forces at play on the French Riviera. It's a landscape marked by leisure, with sailboats dotting the water, yet there are also figures on the shore, likely locals, perhaps engaged in labor that supports the tourism industry. This photograph exists as evidence of the Riviera as a site of both work and leisure. We see here how landscape photography can often function as a subtle commentary on social stratification and the unequal distribution of resources. The Neurdein Brothers captured a moment in time, but also hinted at the complex dynamics shaping the identity of this coastal region, between local communities and wealthy tourists.