Story highlights The earliest known photograph to show a person was published online this week

It was taken in Paris, France, in 1838 by Louis Daguerre

The image shows a man getting his boots cleaned on the sidewalk

(CNN) At first glance, it doesn't seem that remarkable: An old black-and-white scene of a strangely deserted city, smudged in places by some primitive photographic process.

But this image, taken in Paris, France, in 1838, is believed to be the earliest known photograph featuring a person.

Look in the photo's lower left corner and you'll see a man getting his boots cleaned on the sidewalk. The boot-cleaner is there too, although he is harder to spot.

The image has been posted online before, but it gained a higher profile after news site Mashable published a full-page version on Wednesday in partnership with Retronaut , a website that archives photos from the past.

This detail from the photo's lower left corner shows a man who appears to be getting his boots cleaned.

It was taken by Louis Daguerre, the French photographer famous for pioneering the daguerreotype, an early type of photo produced on a silver plate or a silver-covered copper plate.

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