Studio Harcourt
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Cosette_Harcourt.jpg/220px-Cosette_Harcourt.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/BALIBAR_Jeanne-24x30-1998.jpg/220px-BALIBAR_Jeanne-24x30-1998.jpg)
Studio Harcourtis a photography studio founded in 1933 byCosette Harcourtat 11, rue Christophe-Colomb in Paris. In 1934, she joined forces with the Lacroix brothers, press bosses and Robert Ricci, son of Nina Ricci to found the Harcourt studio. It is known in particular for its black-and-white photographs of movie stars and celebrities, but having one's photo taken at Harcourt a few times during one's life was once considered standard by the Frenchupper middle class.[1]The studio is currently located at 6, rue de Lota in the 16th arrondisment of Paris.
History
[edit]Harcourt Studio Photography is the result of the association of the brothers Lacroix and Germaine Hirschfeld (1900–1976) aka Cosette Harcourt,[2]a photographer who had worked in the studio of the brothers Manuel. Initially, the company produced images for the press, at a time when prestigious photo studios likeNadarclosed for lack of clients.[3]
The change in direction came when Cosette Harcourt started to specialize in black-and-white glamour photography of figures from French cinema and culture,[3]always using 24 x 30 cm prints immediately recognizable for their distinctive style and lighting. This typical Harcourt style consists of a photo taken at close distance to the subject in its best light, generally creating a halo of light and dark, on a gray-to-black background. The attitude of the subject is personal, often wearing a slight smile, but somehow always seeming a little staged. Also, the Harcourt logo is featured prominently on every print.[1]
This Harcourt style[3]was inspired by the work of French cinematographerHenri Alekan.[2]Around the time ofWorld War II,Cosette Harcourt, who was Jewish, married one of the Lacroix brothers.[3]Together they created a magazine, calledStars,to serve as an outlet for studio photos. During the occupation of France by the Nazis, German officers and many members of theVichy regimevisited the studios, just as the Americans did after theFrench Liberation.[3]After the war, Harcourt regained its momentum with movie star photography, continuing the tradition that made it successful initially.
In 2000, at the initiative of Jack Lang, the French state bought the photos of Studio Harcourt from between 1934 and 1991: about 5 million negatives of 550,000 persons and 1,500 celebrities.[2]
Having a photo taken at Harcourt in 2010 reportedly costs about 1,900 Euros.[1] An alternative is using one of the officialCabine Photo Luxephoto booths that take a picture for 10 euros and process it to achieve the Harcourt look.[4]
Gallery
[edit]- Photographs from Studio Harcourt
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Nathalie Bayein 1994
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Carole Bouquetin 1995
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Roger Federerin 1998
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Marion Cotillardin 1999
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Patrick Bruelin 2002
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Guillaume Canetin 2004
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Laetitia Castain 2005
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Antoine de Caunesin 2005
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Queen Rania of Jordanin 2005
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Jean-Claude Carrièrein 2006
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Julien Clercin 2008
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Monica Bellucciin 2008
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Pierre Arditiin 2009
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Claire Chazalin 2009
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Jean Dujardinin 2009
References
[edit]- ^abcGötter, gut ausgeleuchtetinDie Welton 4 April 2010
- ^abcHarcourt, soixante-quinze ans de classicismeinLe Figaroon 10 September 2009
- ^abcdeSous le glamour, le côté obscur du studio HarcourtinLe Mondeon 7 November 2009
- ^Hauer, Caroline (1 October 2011)."Coup de coeur: Harcourt, la Cabine Photo de Luxe [qui n'est pas une cabine de la société Photomaton, heureux les avocats?]".Paris la Douce(in French).Retrieved18 July2021.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Photo Studio HarcourtonYouTube(video about the studio byDeutsche Welle)