In his 1989 photograph, Martin Parr makes a humorous and candid portrayal of a tourist observing the Eiffel Tower. The tourist cranes his neck and squints grotesquely as he peers, through the lens of his camera, up at the underbelly of the iconic structure. The Eiffel Tower was built during the Great Exhibition as a grand statement; this image replaces grandiosity with the absurdity of idol-worship, and draws attention to the role of the camera in this process.

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.