La Maladette. Albumen print, Getty Museum. Public domain photograph.

Aime Civiale began his career as a painter, but switched to photography in the early 1850s. He quickly gained recognition for his work and was awarded a medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1855. Civiale's photographs are characterised by their attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of everyday life in Paris. He documented the city's streets, buildings and people with a keen eye for composition and lighting. One of Civiale's most famous photographs is Paris en Grève (Paris on Strike), which shows a crowd of workers protesting in the streets of Paris in 1871. The photograph is notable for its dramatic composition and its depiction of a pivotal moment in French history. Civiale continued to work as a photographer until his death in 1893. His legacy lives on through his photographs, which provide a unique insight into life in Paris in the late 19th century.