Watch CBS News

X-SciTech

A vision of the future from 1899

By Edecio Martinez

August 23, 2012 / 11:52 AM EDT / CBS News

1024px-France_in_XXI_Century._Fishing.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

What will the future look like? That's what French artists tried to depict in a series of futuristic postcards presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The vision of Jean-Marc Cote and other artists, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910 and show everything from flying carriages to men riding seahorses underwater. This is how nineteenth century artists envision France in the year 2000.

1024px-France_in_XXI_Century._Flying_police.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_postman.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_firemens.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._War_cars.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Correspondance_cinema.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

1024px-France_in_XXI_Century._Electric_scrubbing.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

1024px-France_in_XXI_Century._Helicopter.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_bus.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_battle.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_cab.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_explorer.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_flowers.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_hunters.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_police.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_ship.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_tennis.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Airbus_Parisien.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Air_rescue.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Astronomia.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Audio_journal.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Auto_rollers.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Chauffage_au_Radium.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Chemical_food.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Barber.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Concierge.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Dictant_courrier.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Electric_train.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Divers.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._French_food.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Furmer.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Intencive_breeding.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Lacest_fashion.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Microbes.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Opera_avenue.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Phonograph.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Little_robbers.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Race_in_Pacific.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Robot_building.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Robot_orchestra.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Rolling_house.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._School.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Sea_monster.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Une_curiosite.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Toilette_madame.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._War_cicles.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._War_plane.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Water_croquet.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.

France_in_XXI_Century._Whale_bus.jpg — Wikimedia Commons/Jean March Cote

Jean-Marc Cote and other artists envisioned what France would look like in the year 2000. Presented at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, at least 87 different cards were distributed in France from 1899 to 1910.