Sérénade
Les frères
Neurdein
About this photograph :
Sérénade
From the 18th century bathing in the sea and the benefits of the marine climate were recommended for their therapeutic virtues. At the time balneotherapy was above all an upper class pursuit and its practice indicated a superior and shared social belonging. Little by little, swimming became more popular. It was still however unpopular at the time to walk in a bathing-suit along the beach. In order to change but also to bathe privately, bathers used mobile cabins with wheels. Whilst getting changed, a horse pulled the cabin towards the edge of the water and it was turned seaward. Bathing could therefore be carried out very discreetly. Once the bathing was completed, a flag was hoisted to attract the coachman’s attention and indicate that he could come and collect the cabin.
About the artist :
Les frères
Neurdein
The Neurdein firm was founded in 1864 by Etienne Neurdein, son of the photographer Charlet. His brother Antonin soon joined him. This was at first a typical Parisian studio, where people could have their photos taken or buy historical portraits sold as calling cards, but in the 1870s the firm began to target a curious and well-off clientele with its production and sale of tourist views. The number of trips increased, to North Africa, through-out Europe, with the operators bringing back to Paris boxes filled with exotic views and ethnological reportages which were very popular at the end of the 19th century, the "types". The two brothers became nationally famous when they photographed the Paris World Fairs of 1889 and 1900, publishing their photographs in the magazines of the time and in prestigious albums. In addition, the Neurdein firm's editorial activities made it one of the pioneers in the field of publishing photographs: its postcards, published under the brands ND and X were widely distributed. Roger-Viollet purchased this collection of several hundreds of thousands of negatives and photographic albums in 1970 from la Compagnie des Arts Photomécaniques.
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