CHRYSIS IN THE OPERA “APHRODITE” : PHOTO BY REUTLINGER : UNION POSTAL UNIVERSELLE

This vintage real photo postcard features an actress playing the role of “Chrysis” in the opera “Aphrodite”. The opera is based on the French novel, “Aphrodite : Ancient Morals”, by Pierre Louys. The story is set in Alexandria and tells the story of Chrysis, a courtesan, and the sculptor Demetrios. Chrysis is beautiful and she knows it. She uses her beauty and skill to win the devotion and subservience of men. All the women in town worship Demetrios. He actually preferred his statue of the goddess Aphrodite, over his lover and the other women in town. There is only one woman in town who is not interested in Demetrios. The story goes on from there. The photograph of Chrysis seen on this postcard, was taken by the celebrated photographer, Leopold Reutlinger. He photographed many actresses and beautiful models. The Reutlinger studio was located in Paris, and was highly esteemed. Printed near the top of the postcard are the words “Union Postale Universelle”. The Universal Postal Union was established by the Treaty of Bern (1874) and it’s mission was to coordinates postal policies between member nations. The Union still exists today and is a specialized agency of the United Nations. This postcard is color tinted and is part of a series (no.2239). SOLD

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  1. Frans van Nes's avatar

    This is a nice collection of pictures (I’m happy to upload them on Wikimedia Commons), and also a very interesting one, since the “Chrysis” on the 4th postcard is not Chrysis. Chrysis was played (and sung) by Mary Garden, while Régina Badet, who was a dancer after all, performed Théano in this opera.See https://lesarchivesduspectacle.net/s/25715-Aphrodite


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