Charles Marville: 6 works

'Although Charles Marville began his photography career concentrating on religious sites and architecture, his attention soon turned to civic subjects, such as this monumental public space extending out from the Arc de Triomphe. When creating this image, Marville's intent was not to simply document a specific place or structure, but to illustrate the national glorification of France.'

'This early image reflects Marville's interest in documentary photography, which became his specialty after the city of Paris commissioned him to photograph the roads scheduled for demolition by Napoleon III's architect and city planner, Georges-Eugène, Baron Haussman.'

'Because this block would soon undergo destruction, it became a subject for Charles Marville's documentation of the changes wrought by urban renewal.'

'Shortly after Charles Marville made this photograph the street would disappear entirely, demolished as part of Baron Haussmann's restructuring of Paris's principal boulevards.'

'Urban planner Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann commissioned Charles Marville to document "old Paris" prior to Haussmann's redesign of the city's streets and public spaces.'