WW1 postcard Arras Town Hall ruins belfry War 1914-15 old photo

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Visual Description

This black and white postcard presents a striking view of the ruins of Arras City Hall and its famous belfry, after the bombardments during the First World War. The photograph shows, in the central part, the heavily damaged facade of the building, of which only sections of walls and gaping arches remain. To the right, a row of urban buildings, also bearing visible damage, frames the scene and accentuates the atmosphere of devastation. The street in the foreground is strewn with rubble and appears deserted except for a tiny human silhouette, which adds a dramatic scale to the whole.

At the top of the card, a printed caption states: "307. The Great War 1914-15 ARRAS bombarded and burned by the Germans – Ruins of the City Hall and its famous Belfry". This inscription authenticates the historical context and clearly defines the scene. At the bottom right, the publisher is mentioned: "A. Richard 84 Faubourg du Temple Paris".

The photographic print reveals a marked contrast, characteristic of early 20th-century printing processes, with light areas in the square and deep shadows in the ruins. The card shows a uniform patina, some signs of wear and small visible stains near the edges, typical of an object that has passed through decades.

The classic rectangular format is visible, with slightly blunted corners, but no apparent tears on the exposed side. No handwritten text, stamp, or annotation is visible on the illustrated side shown in the image.

The photograph, both documentary and commemorative, is a direct testimony to the destruction that occurred in Arras between 1914 and 1915, highlighting the urban architecture and the symbolic significance of the belfry, severely affected by the fighting.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The image shows superficial wear, softened corners, and possible age marks on the illustrated side, without major alteration of readability or the photographed scene.

Did you know? The belfry of Arras, an emblematic monument in Northern France, was almost entirely destroyed during the First World War. Its faithful reconstruction after the conflict allowed the City Hall and belfry complex to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005 as a remarkable example of civil architecture and urban resilience.

AFW Reassurance

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