There is something so curious about seeing images of the early 1900s in color – it makes the era feel more tangible. When I initially saw these photographs of turn of the century Paris on Curious Eggs, I was struck by the fact that, somewhere in the back of my head, I seemed to think that the people of the time moved through a hazy world of sepia. I don’t think that the addition of color necessarily detracts from my romantic illusions (or delusions), but it certainly makes the era feel more “real.” It’s almost like we could hop in a zeppelin and visit, which, to be honest, is all I’ve ever really wanted.

Below you will see a selection of favorites, though everything in this gallery, it seems, is historically rich, engaging, and just plain beautiful. Be sure to check out the original source, Paris1914, for more visual delectation.

Quintessential Parisian Street