This vintage French photographic postcard presents a playful and deliberately risqué studio scene, produced in France during the early 20th century, likely circa 1905–1915. The image shows a young woman reclining nude in an ornate bathtub, leaning over the tub’s edge with her arms folded and smiling directly at the viewer. Her expression is open, flirtatious, and self-aware, clearly intended to engage the recipient in a lighthearted, teasing manner. The setting is a stylized interior, with a patterned background and a decorative porcelain bathtub, lending the scene an air of theatrical elegance rather than explicit exhibition. While the subject is unclothed, the composition remains suggestive rather than explicit, placing the postcard squarely within the tradition of French “risqué” or “galant” postcards that were popular in the Belle Époque period. The card is marked “REX 811” on the image side, identifying it as part of a commercial French postcard series, produced for novelty and adult amusement rather than private photography. Such cards were widely collected, mailed discreetly, or kept in albums, and today they are sought after for their blend of early photography, social history, and erotic ephemera. A translation of the message is as follows: “Peek-a-boo… it’s me!” “Yes, it really is me… in flesh and bone, In flesh above all — but behind closed doors…” The wording is intentionally playful and suggestive, reinforcing the private, teasing tone of the image and making the postcard unmistakably risqué by period standards. The postcard is in very good vintage condition. There is light edge and corner wear consistent with age. The image remains clear, with good contrast and no major distractions. The reverse shows light handling wear (see scans).
This vintage postcard is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $45 at auction
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336351642710
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 