TASCHEN's Paris, Portrait of a City takes us through a world city where, as Goethe put it, "every walk over a bridge or a square reminds us of a great past and where a piece of history has developed at every street corner." The history of Paris is recounted through significant photographs, from Daguerre's early incunabula to contemporary shots—a lavish inventory of change, a vast panorama spanning more than 600 pages and 500 photographs. This book unites past and present, the monumental and the everyday, architecture and fashion. Images by world-famous photographers such as Daguerre, Marville, Atget, Lartigue, Brassaï, Kertész, Ronis, Doisneau, and Cartier-Bresson, as well as pictures by unknown artists, capture the unique "Parisian atmosphere," that special poetry that the city and its inhabitants convey to this day and that has inspired countless writers and artists over the centuries.

Paris, Portrait of a City is a sparkling mosaic of images, a monumental photographic study full of touching snapshots—one could also call this volume the unofficial family album of Parisians. It is dedicated to them and to all who have been enchanted by the city, showcasing a vibrant and loving display of images.