Reutlinger
(1816 - 1937)
Charles Reutlinger was born in 1816 and came from a French family. He founded his studio in 1850 and photographed many of the best-known artists, musicians and writers of his time, including Liszt, Verdi and Berlioz. In 1880, Charles Reutingler handed over his studio to his brother Emile Reutlinger. Emile's son Leopold-Emile Reutlingerbegan to work for his father when he went to Paris from Peru in 1883. He took over the Reutlinger studio in 1890 and produced photographs for advertising purposes, as well as for magazines and newspapers. He frequently held exhibitions of his work in the offices of the newspapers that he worked for. Leopold-Emile also added erotic images to the Reutlinger portfolio.
The studio flourished, making photographs for commercial and advertising usage, but also mass-producing portraits of performers for the adoring and collecting public. Leopold-Emile stopped working in 1930 when he lost an eye in an accident with a champagne cork.
The Reutlinger studio was located in the heart of the capital of fashion, Paris. It consisted of palm trees, columns, tapestries, rugs, and an assortment of steps and stairways on which the flowing trains from the ladies' gowns could be resplendently fanned out. The most attractive models were sought, and often the prettiest ladies with the best figures were found at the Folies Bèrgeres, the Comedie Français, or the Opera Bouffe. Therefore, it is not unusual to see early photographs of Paris-based opera singers, such as Lina Cavalieri who performed for the Folies Bèrgeres, prior to their operatic debuts.
The Reutlinger Studio, closed its doors in 1937.
