Rene Burri’s 1989 photograph of the Bastille Opera House, which opened in the same year, hints at the presence of the building, linking the past and present of Paris in a single image. The building itself is not centre stage; instead, the Bastille area is a textured backdrop to Auguste Dumont's Génie de la Liberté (the "Spirit of Freedom”), which sits atop the July Column. Burri’s representation of Paris’ new Opera House emphasises links with the older Palais Garnier Opera House and its gilded statues.

The Magnum at 70, Series 2 – Paris Collection is the second in a series of collections showcasing and celebrating the work of members of the renowned artists’ cooperative, Magnum Photos. The photographic and video works are released on Sedition as curated selections of digital editions as part of a yearlong partnership with Magnum Photos throughout 2017. The Magnum at 70 partnership celebrates 70 years of Magnum Photos by revisiting iconic, era-defining photographic works from the past seven decades and looking ahead to the digital future of photography.