The turn of the 20th century, the Belle Epoque period (1871 to 1914), was an exciting moment in history and Paris was at the forefront. The Eiffel Tower, the Paris Métro and Renault’s first car all sprung from this iconic time.
While it was a thrilling progression, modernity also marked the decline of “les petits métiers” - small individual trades that were taken over by factories filled with people, and eventually, machines.
Faced with these very visible changes, photographers took to the streets to capture artisans at work; hand-weaving baskets, fixing restaurant chairs, sharpening tools.
Chestnut sellers and roasters, 1907.
Boy selling shoe laces, 1907.
Most traders used wheeled carts enabling them to be mobile, or situated themselves in an area relevant to the item.
Blessed boxwood or mistletoe sellers…
