1887 is in the beginning of France electrification it could indeed be electricity poles (mostly haphazard efforts in France from 1880 to 1890-ish but it’s the e

1887 is in the beginning of France electrification it could indeed be electricity poles (mostly haphazard efforts in France from 1880 to 1890-ish but it’s the entrance of Paris so not an unlikely candidate). Alternatively that could also be part of the telegraphs system which was fairly widespread at the time (the painting is of one of Paris gates).