Sunday, January 25, 2015

Belle Epoque Advert


Have become fascinated by La Samaritaine, 19th-century Art Nouveau department store on the Rue de Rivoli.  Currently closed, while megabillionaire Japanese owners, who recently purchased the huge complex--complete with thermal baths-- try to figure out what to do with it.  This beautifully green-colored advertisement, with haughty child and lady (mother?) gently holding gloved hand of other lady, captures the antique glamor of the place.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Portrait on Wood



Found in little antiques shop in the Marais this week: a photograph attached to a piece of wood then handpainted.  I've not seen this particular handling of the photo before, and all one can say is the colorist knew what he/she was doing.  The comparison with "hand-tinted" tintypes and cartes de visite one comes across in the US hardly favors the latter.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Paris Est Étrange Department



Advert in a café window on the Boulevard Raspail.  The arms and legs are peculiarly disturbing.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Preserve Us...


...from Kidney and
Bladder Affections.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Audouard



A large cabinet card from Barcelona--world-wide source of good things.  I think it's a young woman, but Pierrot is a notoriously ambisexual archetype.