1800s

Historic B&W photos of Paris, France, late 19th Century

Historic B&W photos of Paris, France, late 19th Century

Late in the 19th century, Paris hosted two major international expositions: the 1889 Universal Exposition, was held to mark the centennial of the French Revolution and featured the new Eiffel Tower; and the 1900 Universal Exposition, which gave Paris the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais and the first Paris Métro line. Paris became the laboratory of…
Historic B&W photos of Warsaw under Russian Partition in the 19th century

Historic B&W photos of Warsaw under Russian Partition in the 19th century

Partitions of Poland were a series of three partitions that took place towards the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years. The partitions were conducted by the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and Habsburg Austria, which divided up the Commonwealth lands among themselves…
Historic B&W photos of Bosnia in 19th Century

Historic B&W photos of Bosnia in 19th Century

Bosnia and Herzegovina fell under Austro-Hungarian rule in 1878 when the Congress of Berlin approved the occupation of the Bosnia Vilayet, which officially remained part of the Ottoman Empire. Three decades later, in 1908, Austria-Hungary provoked the Bosnian crisis by formally annexing the occupied zone, establishing the Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the joint control of Austria and Hungary.
Historic B&W photos of Hanover, Germany (19th century)

Historic B&W photos of Hanover, Germany (19th century)

From 1868 to 1946 Hanover was the capital of the Prussian Province. For Hanover’s industry, however, the new connection with Prussia meant an improvement in business. The introduction of free trade promoted economic growth, and led to the recovery of the Gründerzeit (founders’ era). Between 1871 and 1912 Hanover’s population grew from 87,600 to 313,400. In 1872 the first horse…
Vintage images of Statue of Liberty under construction (1880s)

Vintage images of Statue of Liberty under construction (1880s)

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, in the United States. The copper statue, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor, and dedicated on October 28, 1886, was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The statue is of a robed female…
Historic B&W photos of Brussels, Belgium in the 19th Century

Historic B&W photos of Brussels, Belgium in the 19th Century

In 1830, the Belgian revolution took place in Brussels after a performance of Auber’s opera La Muette de Portici at the La Monnaie theatre. Brussels became the capital and seat of government of the new nation. South Brabant was renamed simply Brabant, with Brussels as its capital. On 21 July 1831, Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, ascended…
Vintage: Public Urinals in Paris by Charles Marville (19th Century)

Vintage: Public Urinals in Paris by Charles Marville (19th Century)

Charles Marville (1813 – 1879), was a French photographer, who mainly photographed architecture, landscapes and the urban environment. He used both paper and glass negatives. He is most well known for taking pictures of ancient Parisian quarters before they were destroyed and rebuilt under “Haussmannization”, Baron Haussmann’s new plan for modernization of Paris. In 1862, he was named official photographer…