In March 1970, Paris announced an amateur photography competition called C'etait Paris en 1970 to create an archive of a city undergoing a proliferation of large-scale urban development projects. A grid system divided the city into 1,755 squares, and a photographer was charged with documenting each square during May 1970. Some of the 91,655 photographs taken are on display at the Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris until 7 October 2026.
A Glimpse into the Past
The exhibition showcases a variety of scenes from everyday life in Paris. One photograph captures the number 21 bus to Gare St Lazare. Another shows a game of petanque, a classic French pastime. Cafe society is depicted with people sitting outside Restaurant Quick on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. A view from a car in the 18th arrondissement on rue Ordener highlights the extensive use of cars, which made Paris a huge parking lot according to exhibition curator Juliette Eymeoud.
Life and Infrastructure
Many Parisians lived in very small apartments with no comfort, no running water, and shared toilets, as seen in a photo of the Lycee Sophie Germain in the 4th arrondissement. A man reading a map at Dupleix metro station features graffiti that translates to 'resist the increase.' It was cheaper to print black-and-white photos, so two-thirds of the collection is black and white. An exterior/interior shot shows the 19th arrondissement near Rue de Tanger.
Fashion and Commerce
A man walks past a Printemps store with a sign saying '1970s youth fashion.' Eymeoud notes that while the 1970s are often seen as colorful and flashy, in 1970 many aspects still reflected the 1960s. Children play near a construction site. A poster advertises the movie L'Aveu (The Confession) directed by Costa-Gavras starring Yves Montand and Simone Signoret. Garages on the Rue de Sevres in the 6th arrondissement are captured, along with a shop called 'de tout ... un peu' (A little bit of everything...).
Transportation and Daily Life
A Total petrol station features a Citroen 2CV in the 15th arrondissement near the square Desnouettes. Roadworks on Rue de la Paix are documented. Newlyweds pose at the Eiffel Tower, and children play in a playground. A balloon stall at the Eiffel Tower in the 7th arrondissement on Champ-de-Mars is shown. Other images include children playing on a slide, three children with a large balloon, and the number 21 trolleybus near Le Boulevard Arago.
Night Scenes and Neighborhoods
The ring road (Peripherique) at night is captured. A man looks into the window of restaurant Chez Georgette. A multi-image effect shows a cafe awning advertising Bieres de Munich. Newspapers and Judaica fill a shop window in the Marais, historically the city's Jewish area in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. A man stops to eat a pastry. Emergency services attend an accident in the Porte d'Asnieres neighborhood. A street scene includes a gendarme, a woman shopper, and a youngster. The Eiffel Tower is illuminated by car lights at night.
The exhibition offers a unique view of Paris before major transformations, preserving moments of a city in flux. It runs until October 2026 at the Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris.
