The beginnings of the automobile: Jean-Ferdinand Coste and his car at the Lautaret Pass

This photo, taken by the photographer Jean-Ferdinand Coste (1861-1932), represents him in front of his car on the Lautaret Pass road. In the distance, one can see the Emparis plateau, still dotted with patches of snow in July, bearing witness to the altitude and the climate of the region. This image captures the early days of the automobile in the valley.