The City of Lights is a place that’s know for inspiring art, amazing food, and romance — but what did Paris look like before any of us had a chance to experience its magic? In 1909, a wealthy French banker named Albert Kahn took it upon himself to execute the documentation of Paris, along with other places in the world, by using a brand new type of technology: Color photography. The camera was called the Autochrome Lumière, and Kahn commissioned four photographers to head out into the world and snap what they could find. Kahn’s photographers documented life in Paris over 100 years ago, using color filters made from dyed potato starch grains. The beautiful photos have been enhanced and improved for viewing today, and you can see them below.
