Gaping at a Prussian
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Gaping at a Prussian
An object of great curiosity, Champs Elysees Date: 1-3 March 1871
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Media ID 14283300
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1871 Champs Curiosity Elysees Franco Gaping Prussian Prussians
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures a moment of great curiosity and intrigue on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris during the tumultuous events of March 1871. The scene depicts a crowd of Parisians, their eyes fixed on a group of Prussian soldiers, who stand at attention, seemingly unfazed by the intense scrutiny. The Prussians had recently entered Paris to quell the uprising that followed the Franco-Prussian War, which had ended in January of that year. The war, which began in July 1870, had resulted in a decisive victory for the Prussians, leading to the abdication of Napoleon III and the establishment of the Third French Republic. The Paris Commune, a radical socialist government, took control of the city in March 1871, leading to a bloody conflict with the Prussian forces. This photograph, taken between 1-3 March 1871, provides a glimpse into the tense atmosphere of that time. The Parisians, who had endured years of political instability and economic hardship, were eager to get a look at their new occupiers. The Prussians, meanwhile, were determined to assert their authority and restore order. The image is a poignant reminder of the complex and often fraught relationship between the French and the Prussians during this period of history. It also serves as a testament to the power of curiosity and the human desire to understand the unknown. The Champs-Élysées, which today is known for its luxury shops and cafes, was once the site of a historic encounter between two peoples, each trying to make sense of the other.
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