Les Girls: Photographies Daniel Frasnay

by Daniel Frasnay (Photographer)

After WWII, Daniel Frasnay, a gypsy-born portrait photographer, found himself in the midst of a world where topless women dazzled in sequins, paillettes, feathers, fishnets, and little else. For 40 years Frasnay held the enviable position of official photographer at the famed Cabaret Lido, in Paris. (The story of the Lido began back in the 1920s when an artificial beach was built in the basement of a large town house at 78 Avenue des Champs Elysees--a mini-lakeside town much in vogue with Parisians in the years between the wars.) Frasnay, a gifted technician with, quite literally, a truly unique point of view was able to record a world that sadly has all but disappeared. Considered a Cartier-Bresson to the Paris garter set, Frasnay immersed himself in the world of Paris nightlife and photographed the backstage, rehearsals, revues, and stars that frequented not only the Lido but all the hot nightspots from Pigalle to the Left Bank and Champs-Elysees. Les Girls is a collection of his work from the early 1950s into the 70s--the heyday of Parisian cabaret, and captures not only the glamour and beauty of the era, but also the drama and energy as seen through the lens of a true insider.

Genres: Photography

166 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2005

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more, as the subject is classic burlesque photography, and I love cabaret lifestyle, etc, etc. Unfortunately, Frasnay's photographs tend to be of a more stock variety, so while I greatly love the subject matter, I never felt any of that love from Frasnay himself---a feeling that he verifies at the end of the book where he (quite damningly, in my opinion) states that he never held any true passion for his subject matter, or really even for photography itself.

This lack of passion means that the book is more a collection of publicity photos than anything else. Rarely are any of true emotions captured, any of the personalities behind the art form. I was reminded of Degas as an opposite: Degas with his ballerina paintings of the girls stretching, or putting on their ballerina slippers, or adjusting their costumes, tucking here and there----this book is devoid of those inner glimpses, and suffers from it.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A more upscale (in a very good way) and much expanded than the "Paris Parade" edition. Both volumes are a must-have. If not for the sole reason of seeing a haunting image of Alain Delon lurking in the audience of some 'wonderful' nightclub. Buy this book now if you see it. I think it's out-of-print, but remainder copies are seen time to time.

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great view on cabaret and erotic shows. I loved the outfits and the makeup shown in the pictures. The girls' bodies were amazing to look at. I loved it.