This striking real photo postcard features a confident young woman posing against a neutral backdrop, dressed in a decorative fringed shawl that is elegantly wrapped around her hips. Her bare torso and boldly direct gaze give the portrait a sense of intimate glamour, common to the French “nude étude” genre of the early 20th century. Her hair is neatly parted and styled in a sleek, classic fashion, and she wears distinctive looped earrings that accent her graceful neck and shoulders. The woman’s expression is both engaging and relaxed, her slight smile inviting and warm. Her stance—turned slightly in profile yet facing the camera with a sense of ease—demonstrates a poise that suggests she may have been a dancer or performer. The use of light and shadow on the wall behind her adds visual depth, while the soft focus enhances the romanticism of the image. Interestingly, the woman modeling on this postcard has been described by some commentators as Arab and other observers have hypothesized that she is Hispanic. This postcard was produced by P.C. Paris, one of the leading French publishers of glamour, artistic nude, and theatrical postcards during the 1920s and 1930s. The postcard is numbered 1887 in the lower corner, part of a large series of posed studio portraits often issued in sequential sets. The reverse reads “Made in France” and bears the P.C. Paris publisher’s mark, indicating it is an original continental European issue—not a later reproduction. P.C. Paris (Phototypie C. et Cie), based in Paris, was known for creating refined studio portraits of women, including risqué and erotic studies, often with exotic or theatrical styling. Many of their models were dancers, actresses, or professional models. Their cards were sold widely across Europe and were sometimes considered collectible art photography. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 