Nicole
Canet and the gallery Au Bonheur du Jour
present an exhibition on
Maisons Closes
Female brothels
Male brothels
1860-1946
EXHIBITION FROM
28 OCTOBER 2009 TO 31 JANUARY 2010
The Chabanais, The One Two Two, The Sphinx, these were just some of
the maisons closes, or brothels, that were the renown of Paris
during the Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties. A world of luxury,
sensual pleasures, kitsch and high society, the maisons closes
reflected an art of living, an art of loving that was kindled by
unbridled desire and uncommon eccentricity.
This new exhibition at Au Bonheur du Jour /is the rediscovery of a
forgotten world, a naughty stroll, a nostalgic saunter through these
mythic establishments whose sumptuous decors spirited the women inside
and their clients as far away as India and Japan, China or Venice.
Taking us back in time, heightening the drama of the occasion, the
exhibition takes place opposite the infamous number 12 rue du
Chabanais, whose doors were closed in 1946 by the law promoted by
Marthe Richard.
Collectors and lovers of houses of illusion will discover a unique
collection of photographs: works by Brassaï, André Zucca, Atget,
Gaston Paris and Doisneau, photographs of Le Chabanais, Le One Two
Two, Le Sphinx, La Fleur Blanche, Le Panier Fleuri, Le Palais Oriental
in Rheims, photographs of architecture and interior design...
Anonymous works appear on well-illustrated themes:
– the famous bordello at 30 rue Lepic at the beginning of the
twentieth century, especially known for spanking, 9 rue de Navarin, a
bordello highly reputed for sadomasochistic fantasy;
– nineteenth and early twentieth century photographs of tableaux
vivants, the erotic living scenes that were mounted for clients at
the most luxurious brothels;
– photographs by Brassaï of lingerie for the famous Diana Slip
catalogue, 1932, destined for the top maisons closes;
– drawings and paintings by Lobel Riche, Luc-Albert Moreau for Carco
(Images Cachées), Carlos Reymond, Dignimont, Courbouleix for Jean
Lorrain (La Maison Philibert), Berthommé St-André, Chas-Laborde.
Unusual objects reveal more intimate stories:
– a riding crop from the One Two Two bearing the name of Flora, a
prostitute skilled with the whip,
– a walking stick with brothel tokens inside concealed beneath a gold
coin,
– a bronze brothel door handle from 1900,
– a door knocker to a male
brothel,
– a dagger for self-defence,
– a chastity belt,
– a magic lantern, crops and whips, even sculpted decorative wooden
plaques.
The photographs, drawings, paintings and other curiosities illustrate
the daily routines that were lived in these famous tolerance houses
Poisonous scenes of venal love, certainly, but also the brilliance of
a social theatre where champagne flowed amid elegant evening gowns and
the comings and goings of the gentlemen and the peculiar ballet of the
madames.
Some of the most extraordinary historic documents await.
Hades or Heaven; the magic of the Maisons Closes.
A book on Maisons Closes 1860-1946
Publication 23 October 2009
328 pages, 400 illustrations, bound cover, 17 chapters and 5
sub-chapters
with accompanying text
1,500 copies of which 50 not for sale
Editions Nicole Canet
ISBN 978-2-9532351-0-4
Nicole Canet
Au Bonheur du Jour - gallery
11 rue Chabanais, Paris 75002
Tuesday to Saturday, 2:30 to 7:30 pm
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