19.00 USD
So pleased to have this card to share with you. We have, for some time, wanted to bring some of this series into our shop, but they are, all too often, priced out of reach. "A Travers Les Coulisses" translates as "In the Wings," or "Behind the Scenes." It was a series of cards published in the 1910s, and perhaps into the 20s, by Paris sur Scene, or "On the Paris Scene."
Although the images in this series are posed images, they are clearly impromptu, and lacking a trompe l'oeil background or polished studio setting. The makeup and costumes of the theatrical performers (sometimes an application of rouge that could be appreciated from the 7th row, balcony)--the ways in which they are posed--the quality of lighting--these are simply not up to the standards of images typically produced by publishers like S.I.P., or Etoile, or Noyer, nor by photographers like Reutlinger, Walery, or Manuel, and of course, we adore those fine, artfully produced, images, but the radical different-ness of this series, makes it very special indeed!
Often the photographs are shot backstage, or in dressing rooms amidst a tangle of disused props, framed pictures, and carelessly strewn articles of clothing. Sometimes the dressers and seamstresses are present. Often we see chorus girls and line dancers--almost always half dressed (in so naively gratuitous a fashion as to bring to mind the phrase "naughty bits" a la Monty Python :), and the images are a goldmine for the fashion historian, because these young ladies were on the cutting edge of the coming flapper rage. These were very much the supporting cast of characters, so often invisible to us, of the Paris music hall tradition--but one of the images in this series is apparently of Mata Hari, so the photographers did sometimes capture relatively candid images of some of the big names.
While researching this series, we came across one of them housed in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery of London. My, but we are in good company now! See how one of the artistes applies her lipstick, using the soldier's polished helmet for her mirror?
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw206183/A-Travers-Les-Coulisses
But why is that simple French postcard placed in so elevated a position? Not because the photographer was well known (anonymous), and the girls were, as far as we know, relative nobodies. We can only imagine it is there because the image captures so exquisitely a time and place in history. Of course we'll continue to look for more cards in this series. This is only one of many, we hope.
So here we have Louis Espinoza, and assorted cast, in a dress (or maybe not so much!), rehearsal for a production called Le Ballet des Nymphes. Posed, but oh so candid. There is moderate wear to corners, edges, and surface on this card, enough that we might not ordinarily have purchased it for the shop, but the image insisted :)
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!