19.00USD
We love the way in which the magical is suggested in this Rotophot of Berlin image, as in so many other images from this time period, without the introduction of a single truly fantastic element. These images make us feel much as we might when reading a fairy tale, as if, at any moment, something truly marvelous will happen.
Nymphs, Naiads, Dryads, and Faerie folk so often cropped up in La Belle Époque imagery, and postcard publishers were responsible for bringing many of these “fantaisies” into being. These images reflected a blossoming of a fairy and folklore revival, and a fascination with the western occult tradition as in the case of writers like Dion Fortune, Madame Blavatsky of the Theosophical Society, and others, but on a more basic level, a popular yearning for the magical, for myth made manifest.
In contrast with French magical images, that seemed to focus more on the "sweet and sexy" aspects of this mythical universe, the German images often had a darker feel to them, as in this image. We feel that although we have a lovely setting, and a beautiful model for this image, she could as easily be a Lorelei, charming sailors to their deaths, as a benign influence working for the "good."
Rotophot, or Rotophot Gesellschaft fuer photographischen Rotationsdruck m.b.H., was a successful publishing house that was also a major printer, (the two did not always go hand in hand). It was established in 1900 by Heinrich Ross, whom many of our customers will recognize as the publisher of many thousands of wonderful film star postcards during the 20s and 30s. Rotophot was also one of the major competitors of NPG, or Neue Photographische Gesellshaft, one of our favorite publishers of quality real photo images of the period.
Although there are minor flaws in this card, bumped corners, a slightly careless effort on the part of the colorist, etc., it is a powerfully magical image that we hope will please a discerning collector of this variety of card. 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!