Troops Parade Down the Champs Élysée in Paris (March 1, 1871)
This chalk lithograph depicts the scene on March 1, 1871, when Kaiser Wilhelm I and his victorious troops entered Paris. In the background is the Arc de Triomphe, located at the top of the Champs Élysées, where twelve grand avenues converge. Completed in 1835, the triumphal arc had long held special significance as a symbol of French military glory and national honor. It is still considered France’s primary war memorial; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies beneath it. The composition of this image, complete with agitated civilian onlookers at the lower right, bears a strong resemblance to the image depicting the entry of Prussian troops into Dresden on June 18, 1866.
Source: akg-images, London, 9-1871-1-3-1-A1-4.