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Paris in Colour 1909-1937: Captured Using The Autochrome Lumière Process

  • Feb 29, 2024
  • 1 min read

Updated: Mar 13


ZEPPELIN blimp in hall; uniformed officer with prosthetic leg, cannon.

Albert Kahn envisioned his Les Archives de la Planète (Archives of the Planet) as a comprehensive snapshot of the world, aiming to immortalise all aspects, practices, and methods of human activities destined for inevitable disappearance.


Commencing in 1909 and concluding in 1937, the Frenchman deployed photographers worldwide, armed with the revolutionary Autochrome Lumiere – the inaugural true colour photographic process developed by the Lumière brothers in 1903. With over 72,000 colour images captured, these remarkable pictures of Paris from 1914, taken by Leon Gimpel, Stephane Passet, Georges Chevalier, and Auguste Leon, stand as original colour photographs, with no artificial colouration.


If Autochrome is something you want to see more of, be sure to take a look at the images Antonin Personnaz captured of France’s Oise Valley between 1907 and 1914. They're like paintings! See them here

Eiffel Tower looms over orange spheres art installation in Paris.

Parisian street scene with 'MARCHES' and 'HOTEL du CAMP ELECTRICITE'.

Eiffel Tower illuminated by spectacular fireworks display at night.


Military officer with prosthetic leg stands proudly beside large cannon.

Historic MOULIN ROUGE cabaret building with its iconic red windmill in Paris.

Woman distributing newspapers on a city sidewalk with street vendors.


Grand triumphal arch dominates old Parisian street, single figure visible.

Old Parisian corner cafe building with "CAFE DE LA GARDE" and "SUZE" signs.

Eiffel Tower and Seine River view from Parisian farmland or gardens.


River with houseboats along bank, tall trees, distant bridge, hazy sky.

Old photo of Seine River, bridge, Parisian buildings, Notre Dame spire.

Historic Parisian street, ornate building, pedestrians, horse-drawn carriage, cloudy sky.


Soldiers in blue uniforms gather near a Metropolitain Paris subway entrance.

Horse pulling a rustic blue cart filled with goods under cloudy sky.

Child on scooter passes women browsing flowers at a vintage street stall.

Man pushes loaded tricycle past old buildings with weathered posters, city square.


Family portrait: man, two women, baby, and boy outside a building.

Eiffel Tower from below, framing distant Trocadéro Palace in Paris.

Vintage street scene with old cars and buildings adorned with many flags.

Man in "EBENISTERIE" doorway, old Parisian street shops, "TONNE" sign.

Man in cap sleeping on pavement with bottle by canal water.


Striped and "CHELIN" balloons hang in a grand, ornate exhibition hall.



 
 
 

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