Nadar and Bernhardt

Gaspard-Félix Tournachon was known by the pseudonym Nadar. Like Madonna and Cher, his moniker was mononymous. He was a French photographer, caricaturist, journalist and novelist. In1858 he actually became the first person to take aerial photographs. He also set a new standard for the conventions for photographic portraits, often choosing to use natural daylight while capturing his subjects participating in an activity.

Today he is remembered for his photographic portraits which are considered to be among the best of the 19th century. Many famous people from politicians to composers, actors to musicians had their photographs taken by Nadar. They include among others Hugo, Baudelaire, George Sand, Dumas, Delacroix, Liszt, Rossini, Offenback, Verdi, Debussy, Zola and, of course, Sarah Bernhardt. 

He lived a long life and he took many photographs of Bernhardt from the time she was in her teens to much later in her career. For the purposes of this post, one photograph stands out as somewhat provocative. She is barely out of girlhood, holding a fan which obscures part of her face but none of her bosom.

Sarah Bernhardt in Her Late Teens

 This is the photo that I focus on today for it suggested an opportunity to create a suggestive video that is provocative for the times while remaining provocative like Bernhardt’s portrait. Paparazzi Catches Silent Movie Star, Sarah Bernhardt, in Her Boudoir (Bernhardt on Broadway parody) https://youtu.be/41jygI8FQkU.