VINTAGE NUDE PHOTOGRAPH : BY LUCIEN WALERY (AS YRELAW) : FRENCH ART DECO MODEL

This striking vintage postcard features a classic nude portrait by celebrated Parisian photographer Lucien Waléry, whose name appears here in reverse as “YrélaW” — a common practice he used to subtly obscure his identity on more provocative works. The image is numbered 1088 in the lower right corner, indicating it was part of a larger, collectible series. 
The young model is posed in an artful semi-recline, one hand supporting her as she leans back against a textured curtain backdrop. She appears relaxed yet lively, her head turned to the side as she offers a gentle, playful smile. Her hair is dark, voluminous, and naturally wavy, framing her face with softness. Her expression conveys youthful confidence with an air of ease — not coy or provocative, but serene and open, as though caught in conversation or reacting to someone just out of frame. The pose emphasizes the natural curves of her body, rendered with artistic sensitivity in the soft lighting typical of Waléry’s photographic style. Though nude, the model is not sexualized in a gratuitous way; the tone is classical and aesthetic, clearly intended as fine art rather than erotica.  Lucien Waléry was the pseudonym of Stanisław Julian Ignacy Ostroróg (1863–1929), a French-born photographer of Polish descent. He came from a line of photographers — his father was also a notable portraitist — and worked during the height of the Belle Époque and Art Deco periods in Paris. Waléry’s photography specialized in glamour, cabaret performers, and nude or semi-nude models, often featuring stars of the Folies Bergère and other Parisian revues. His studio attracted both high-society clientele and show business personalities. While many of his portraits were openly credited, he used backwards spellings of his name (YrélaW or similar variations) for his nude and risqué imagery — a clever form of self-censorship and anonymity designed to navigate laws and cultural norms concerning modesty and pornography in early 20th-century Europe. His works were widely reproduced as postcards, photogravures, and portfolio prints, making them highly collectible today. (SOLD)

Published in: on May 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MYSTERIOUS STAGE ACTRESS: HELENE VERDES

helene-yerkesPOSTCARD 1

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is helene-verdes_0001.jpgPOSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

Vintage real photo postcard 1 and 2 features actress Helene Verdes. At least I think that she is a stage actress. Perhaps a cabinet card gallery visitor knows something about her and will leave some biographical information in the form of a comment. I tried to research her but drew blanks. The photographs of Miss Verdes are by Lucien Walery and he certainly is known for his postcard portraits of theatre performers. Miss Verdes apparently didn’t receive much fame from her theatrical endeavors despite her great beauty.  Lucien Walery was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He is very well known for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Walery did a lot of work in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. Apparently there is considerable debate about Walery’s actual identity. Some contend that he was actually Stanislaw Julian Ignacy Count Ostrorog, a British photographer of Polish ancestry who may have moved to Paris in about 1900.  These postcards date back to the early 1900’s and were published by Marqus Etoile of Paris and are part of a series (no. 310).

helene-yerkes-1POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

Published in: on December 29, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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SUZY MABEL : PRETTY YOUNG ACTRESS : PERFORMED AT THE MUSIC HALLS OF PARIS

The subject of this vintage real photo postcard is theatre actress, Suzy Mabel. I was unable to find much biographical information about this pretty young woman with an enticing smile. The magazine, “Navy and Army” (1905) published a full page spread of Miss Mabel. The article included four photographs of Miss Mabel. One of those photographs was identical to the photo above. A caption beneath the images reads “One of the most popular of the young actresses now appearing at La Scala, Paris”. Le Concert de La Scala was built in 1873 and was one of the most famous cafe-concert halls of the Belle Epoque. The portrait of Suzy Mabel seen on this postcard was photographed by Lucien Walery. He was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He is noted for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Walery did a lot of work in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. This postcard was postmarked in 1907. The card was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France, as part of a series (no. 5087). SOLD

Published in: on January 21, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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MARION WINCHESTER : BROADWAY STAR, SPECIALTY DANCER, AND “SUGAR QUEEN”

Marion Winchester (1882- ?) is the subject of this real photo postcard portrait. She was born in California. She began her professional career in 1899. She was trained at the Alviene Stage Dancing and Vaudeville School of Acting, at the Grand Opera House in New York. Winchester’s London premiere occurred in 1903 when she performed at the Oxford Music Hall where she was billed as the “World’s Champion Cake Walker”. She left London to appear in Paris where she received accolades for her dancing ability. In 1921, she applied for an emergency passport at the American Embassy in Paris. Her paperwork indicated that she resided in Paris where she studied music. She later married Italian pianist and composer, Count Aldo Solito de Solis (1905-1973). The pair divorced in 1940 and De Solis then married actress Gale Page. A photograph of Miss Winchester can be found in England’s National Portrait Gallery. Marion Winchester has appeared on Broadway four times between 1900 and 1902 and once again in 1934. She was mainly active within her career between 1899 and 1908. She was known for being a specialty dancer. An article in “London Week by Week” (1904) tells an interesting anecdote about Winchester. The article refers to the actress as the “Sugar Queen” and explains the origin of this nickname. It is reported that one day she was in the corridor of a fancy hotel and she was sucking on a piece of candy. She happened on the path of the “Emperor of the Sahara”, Jacques Lebaudy. The eccentric sugar magnate said to her, “Give up sugar-stick, and buy sugar stock”. It is said that she took the tip, and made a great deal of money, keeping her well stocked with furs, beautiful dresses, and diamonds. This portrait postcard was photographed by Lucien Walery. He was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He is very well known for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Walery did a lot of work in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. Walery does an excellent job of capturing Miss Winchester’s loveliness. Note her beautiful long hair. This postcard is part of a series (no. 2200). (SOLD)

Published in: on November 6, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS HASLAM: CAN-CAN DANCER AT THE ALCAZAR D’ETE IN PARIS, FRANCE

This vintage real photo postcard features English Can-Can dancer, Miss Haslam. The charming Miss Haslam performed in Paris’s music halls during the Belle Epoque. This photograph was taken by Lucien Walery who was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. Among his more famous subjects were Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. In this photo, Walery captures Miss Haslam during the time she was performing at the Alcazar Club. The Alcazar d’Ete was a Cafe-concert hall which opened in 1860 and closed in 1914. It was located on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The music performed at the music hall was generally lighthearted and sometimes risque.   (SOLD)

Published in: on November 10, 2018 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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