Le Panorama. La Journée de la Parisienne par Reutlinger [...] Paris Qui S'Amuse no. 4.

Paris: Ludovic Baschet. [1897?]. A striking collection of hundreds of photographs from the Reutlinger studio of Paris at the height of the Belle Epoque, published as a special issue of Le Panorama. The photographs include portraits of favorite female Parisian singers, actresses, and dancers with texts detailing their charms, including a 2-page spread on Yvette Guilbert; several sequences of boudoir photographs showing the morning and nighttime rituals of the charming "Parisienne," as well as her daily activities of shopping, bicycling, and lounging; a further section on ballet dancers; another boudoir sequence titled "Le Coucher de la Mariée"; and further photographs of exotic dancers and women posing as Greek statues. Two large fold-out plates at the end depict "Le Bal de l'Opéra" and "Le Grand Escalier de l'Opéra." [148] pp., unnumbered. Handsome oblong three-quarter leather binding with textured boards, leather front label, gold tooling including the initials "C.R." and the date "1897," gilt fore-edge, bright pastel/gold endpapers, and a ribbon bookmark. Tape repairs to the fold-out plates; edges of binding rubbed. Overall in fine condition. 13.75 x 10.5 inches (34.5 x 27 cm).

Known for its portrayals of the rich and famous, the Reutlinger Studio was the most notable studio of its day. Drenched in the most lavish settings including palm trees, tapestries, with a great variety of other valuable decorations, the fashionable Paris based studio was founded in 1850 by Charles Reutlinger, of German descent. The studio passed on to Charles' brother Emile in 1880, who ran the studio until 1890. In 1883, Emile's son Léopold came to Paris from Callao, Peru, where he grew up. Léopold "introduced a very distinctive style of merging photographic images with art nouveau fantasy overlays. He added to that process exceptionally well-done hand tinting. The Reutlinger Studio became known for their unusual art nouveau styles of postcard designs, especially for portraits of actresses. These postcards were not cheaply produced, nor were they cheaply sold. This part of his business was very successful and sought-after, as thousands of his art nouveau postcards were produced." Léopold continued to run the studio until he lost an eye in an accident with a champagne cork in 1930. He died in 1937 at the age of 74. (15174)

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