his French vintage risque real photo postcard features a pretty young woman modeling for an artist. This photograph is meant to titillate. The young woman is scantily dressed. More of her body is exposed than covered. The previous owner of this portrait postcard identifies the woman as a Parisian dancer named “Jenny Bell”. After preliminary research, I have been unable to confirm this identification. This risque photographic portrait was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.035). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 