PARIS / HAMBURG / PARIS Three Books 1950s~1960

PARIS / HAMBURG / PARIS Three Books 1950s~1960

Albert Muller published at least two books in their Ein Bummel durch die Nachtlokade city series: Paris and Hamburg; specifically Paris Oh! La! La! (1958 photos by Daniel Frasnay) and St.Pauli und die Reeperbahn (1960). Easily overlooked pocketbook size books, however both include beautiful photographs printed in very fine, dark toned gravure. The books capture the "nightlife" of both cities: Pigalle, Place Blanche and St.Germain des Pres and the notorious Reeperbahn district in Hamburg known for its adult sex shops, nightclubs, strip joints, tattoo parlors and the "closed" street for  prostitution, Herbertstrasse.  More about the Reeperbahn (literally "rope walk") click here.

The third book The Women of Paris shown below in a hardcover edition published by the Bodley Head in London, 1954, has a few things in common with the two Albert Muller books. It is obviously about Paris, it is beautifully printed in gravure (photographs by Nico Jesse) and it was eventually published in Holland (same title by A.W. Bruna & Zoon, 1958) as a pocketbook, similar in quality to the two books above. 

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La Vie Parisienne ~ 1920s French magazine

 

La Vie Parisienne ~ 1920s French magazine

La Vie Parisienne magazine, an early popular culture magazine reflecting the Parisian high-life, is best known for it's exceptional art deco era issues filled with art work by some of the best illustrator's of the 1920s and '30s. The magazine had a very long and illustrious publishing history starting in 1872 and continuing for almost 100 years. 

The art director/editor during the art deco era was Leo Fontan who was also a very talented illustrator and contributor to this and other magazines. Additional contributing illustrators included Georges Barbier, Herouard (aka Herric), Georges Pavis, Leo Fontan, Gerda Wegener, Georges Léonnec, Maurice Milliere, Sacha Zaliouk, Fabien Fabiano, René Vincent, Vald'Es (Valvérane & D'Espagnat), Joseph Kuhn-Régnier, Armand Vallée, Louis Vallet, and Zyg Brunner among others.

Covers for magazines from the 1920s follow.

Illustration by George Pavis 

Illustration by Prejelan

Illustration by Herouard (aka Herric)

Illustration by George Leonic

Illustration by George Leonic

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J.David Illustrations: Prostitution & High Heels Paris 1950s

J.David: Prostitution & High Heels Paris 1950s

While preparing a previous post of digest sized, French girlie magazines I found these four wonderful magazines with cover illustrations by J.David. So I had to do this quick post. I don't know anything about him and could not find anything on the web about him. 

Over the years I have seen only these four magazines with artwork credited to J.David. They include color covers + full-page black and white illustrations and smaller humorous illustrations with a one-line "gag". There is also a monochrome illustration used for a fiction piece at the end. David's line and effortless style of caricature are reminiscent of the work of American artist, Al Capp, the creator of Lil Abner. Medium format magazines published in Paris circa 1953/1954. His focus on busty babes, boots and the world of prostitution.

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 Printemps Sensuel. Numero Special

(left) Filles des Tonnerre. Supervamps ~ Numero Special. (right) Supervamps. 

Numero Tres Special.

 Paris-Parade. Numero Special

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Sleaze Paperbacks: Covers '50s & '60s

Sleaze Paperbacks: Covers '50s & '60s

Great group of paperback sleaze covers, 1950s and '60s from the web, including Operation Sex, Satan Was A Lesbian, Sex Fiend, Jail Bait and Web of Evil. 

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Art In Paris October 2015

So much great art to see on this trip and other than the marvelous exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay Splendor and Misery Prostitution, 1850~1910, my visits were limited to galleries. Here's a glimpse of the art I saw and soon to follow, a post of store fronts and window displays. Above, surreal artwork at the exceptional Caffe Stern in the passage Panorama off the Grand Boulevard.

click any image to enlarge

 Mirka Lugosi forest piece @ Galerie 24b group show

and below, elle meme

 Serena Carone Les Yeux @ Galerie 24b group show

 Caroline Sury cut paper piece ready to hang at the Arts Factory Galerie

Mirka Lugosi and Gilles Berquet in their studio and below, a 

life affirming piece by Mirka

 Gilles Berquet from Le Jeu series

 Musee d'Orsay prostitution exhibition (above) La Femme Violette [detail] 
1891 and (below) la chaise d'amour (fucking chair)

Nicole Canet Galerie Au Bonheur du Jour her must see photographs 

exhibition Maisons Closes and below, also on display, 

a room heater from La Chabanas, a notorious Parisian 

maison close, whore house circa 1900

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