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Charmet Archive - Collection Gems

We’re proud to distribute the Charmet Archive for licensing. The collection has a variety of photography, manuscripts, posters and illustrations with a special focus on France, assembled over thirty years ago by Jean-Loup Charmet. 

 

photo of Cutlers at work in the workshop, France, late 19th century (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Cutlers at work in the workshop, France, late 19th century (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

The Charmet Archive

 

photo of Portrait of Edith Piaf (1915-63) in Paris (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Portrait of Edith Piaf (1915-63) in Paris (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
 
 
The collection is a perfect complement to Giraudon, the historic archive acquired by Bridgeman in 2001.
 
General Winter, front cover illustration from 'Le Petit Journal', supplement illustre, 9th January 1916 (colour litho), Bombled, Louis Charles (1862-1927) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
General Winter, front cover illustration from 'Le Petit Journal', supplement illustre, 9th January 1916 (colour litho), Bombled, Louis Charles (1862-1927) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

image of The Signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918 at 5 a.m., 1918 (colour litho), Verneuil, Maurice Pillard (1869-1942) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
The Signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918 at 5 a.m., 1918 (colour litho), Verneuil, Maurice Pillard (1869-1942) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

400,000 images can be found in this collection, covering public events, culture, science, people and places from every era. Images exclusively reference France. Jean-Loup Charmet was a photographer and documentalist who searched, found and reproduced forgotten images in friendly galleries, illuminated books, scholarly collections, museums of various sizes and reputations, and specialized libraries. Images were constantly being reproduced, showcasing miniatures, prints, postcards, manuscripts, advertisements, educational images and paintings. Images found in this collection are an ode to memory, history, geography, popularisation and knowledge. 

 

image of the Advertisement for Gant Perrin, from 'Femina', November 1946 (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / Bridgeman Images
Advertisement for Gant Perrin, from 'Femina', November 1946 (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / Bridgeman Images

 

image of Miss Broquedis, Olympic Tennis Champion, front cover of 'Femina', issue 278, 15th August 1912 (coloured photo), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Miss Broquedis, Olympic Tennis Champion, front cover of 'Femina', issue 278, 15th August 1912 (coloured photo), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Jean-Loup Charmet was born in Chartres during the War on May 1, 1940, he grew up in Paris, in the heart of an educated bourgeois family. His family home was a large flat with an open view on to the Luxembourg Gardens. Charmet was surrounded by creativity, his father was an art critic and painter whilst his mother from Hungary had a pronounced taste for the popular arts. 

 

image of The Station, fashion plate from 'Art, Gout, Beaute', 1st September, 1927 (pochoir print), French School, (20th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
The Station, fashion plate from 'Art, Gout, Beaute', 1st September, 1927 (pochoir print), French School, (20th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Charmet’s passion for iconography first developed in a trip to Eastern Europe in the sixties. He started to make photographic reports in Budapest. Whilst working with the publisher Tchou, Charmet threw himself tentatively to the reproduction of old documents.

 
photo of a Train accident at the Gare Montparnasse in Paris on 22nd October 1895 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Train accident at the Gare Montparnasse in Paris on 22nd October 1895 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Photograph and writing of Anne Frank, 1942 (b/w photo), Dutch Photographer, (20th Century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Photograph and writing of Anne Frank, 1942 (b/w photo), Dutch Photographer, (20th Century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

The birth and foundation of the Découvertes Gallimard Collection allowed Charmet’s collection to shine. Charmet’s office was located on the top floor of the 17th-century building on Rue Chapon in Paris. Documentalists would arrive at Charmet’s office looking for treasures that would serve as a support for the papers and illustrations to support ideas in their written works.

 

Studio of Nadar at 35 Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, c.1855 (b/w photo), Nadar, (Gaspard Felix Tournachon) (1820-1910) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Studio of Nadar at 35 Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, c.1855 (b/w photo), Nadar, (Gaspard Felix Tournachon) (1820-1910) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

 The Découvertes Gallimard Collection is an editorial collection of illustrated monographic books published by the Éditions Gallimard. 

 

Poster advertising a tour of the Chat Noir Cabaret, 1896 (colour litho), Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre (1859-1923) / Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Poster advertising a tour of the Chat Noir Cabaret, 1896 (colour litho), Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre (1859-1923) / Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

'Women Must Vote', poster encouraging women to fight for voting rights, c.1925-30 (colour litho), Barbey, Maurice (c.1880-p.1939) / Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
'Women Must Vote', poster encouraging women to fight for voting rights, c.1925-30 (colour litho), Barbey, Maurice (c.1880-p.1939) / Bibliotheque Marguerite Durand, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Charmet worked with a large number of white boxes filled with black and white prints and yellow boxes full of medium - format prints. The boxes all had a different title, a theme - Revolution, Consulate, Esotericism, Sweet Spices, Imageries d’Epinal, Nostradamus. These boxes contained the treasures of Daumier’s caricatures, engravings from the Petit Journal, tempera on vellum or gouaches on paper of Chinese Emperors and Tibetan figures and illustrations from La Fontaine’s Fables. 

 

The Children's Class, 1889 (oil on canvas), Geoffroy, Henri Jules Jean (1853-1924) / Ministere de L'Education Nationale, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
The Children's Class, 1889 (oil on canvas), Geoffroy, Henri Jules Jean (1853-1924) / Ministere de L'Education Nationale, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Cover of 'Fables de Jean de La Fontaine', with illustrations by A. Vimar, 1897 (colour litho) , French School, (19th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Cover of 'Fables de Jean de La Fontaine', with illustrations by A. Vimar, 1897 (colour litho) , French School, (19th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Handwritten captions accompanied all of Charmet’s documents. The collection was rigorously and appropriately arranged otherwise images would have been impossible to find. Charmet would take his images to the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Bibliothèque de l'Institut, the Mazarine and the Musée Guimet all in efforts to make sure his treasures were identified and reproduced. Charmet took the opportunity to take his photographs to the library at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on Mondays as it was closed. 

 
image of a poster Beef: diagram depicting the different cuts of meat (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Beef: diagram depicting the different cuts of meat (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Cuts of Pork, illustration from a French Domestic Science Manual by H. de Puytorac, published by Editions Fernand Nathan, late 19th century (colour litho), French School, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Cuts of Pork, illustration from a French Domestic Science Manual by H. de Puytorac, published by Editions Fernand Nathan, late 19th century (colour litho), French School, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

The Charmet Archive is exclusive with Bridgeman Images. The Archive contains a variety of images based on different themes, including The Arts, Religion, Transport & Travel, History, Science and Soldiers etc. The list is extensive, the diversity of knowledge that can be found within these images is spectacular. A range of different literary images such as children's literature, foreign literature and surrealist literature can be obtained from Charmet’s collection.

 

 

photo of Romani gipsy prisoner at Auschwitz, from 'Le Genocide des Tziganes sous le Regime Nazi' by Miriam Novitch (b/w photo), German Photographer, (20th century) / Centre de documentation juive contemporaine, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Romani gipsy prisoner at Auschwitz, from 'Le Genocide des Tziganes sous le Regime Nazi' by Miriam Novitch (b/w photo), German Photographer, (20th century) / Centre de documentation juive contemporaine, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

 

And some Collection Gems from the Archive Charmet: 

image of Labels from cider bottles (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Labels from cider bottles (colour litho), French School, (20th century) / Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Below the end of the poem 'Voyage a Cythere' with Baudelaire's signature. The poem was dedicated to Gerard de Nerval (1808-55) and inspired by a little text by Nerval in 'L'Artiste' on 30th June and 11th August 1844.

image of 'Voyage a Cythere' end of the poem with autograph signature (pen & ink on paper) (b/w photo), Baudelaire, Charles Pierre (1821-67) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
'Voyage a Cythere' end of the poem with autograph signature (pen & ink on paper) (b/w photo), Baudelaire, Charles Pierre (1821-67) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

photo of Charles Baudelaire (1821-67) with a Cigar, 1864 (b/w photo), Neyt, Charles (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Charles Baudelaire (1821-67) with a Cigar, 1864 (b/w photo), Neyt, Charles (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

This is a poem by French surrealist poet Robert Desnos, who had a particular talent for automatic writing.

 
image of the poem Light of my Nights, illustrated handwritten poem, 27th November 1932 (gouache on paper), Desnos, Robert (1900-45) / Bibliotheque Litteraire Jacques Doucet, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Light of my Nights, illustrated handwritten poem, 27th November 1932 (gouache on paper), Desnos, Robert (1900-45) / Bibliotheque Litteraire Jacques Doucet, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

photo of an Invitation to an exhibition of the work of Charles Maurin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (litho), French School, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Invitation to an exhibition of the work of Charles Maurin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (litho), French School, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

photograph of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) in his studio with Misia Natanson (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) in his studio with Misia Natanson (b/w photo), French Photographer, (19th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Photographs of many creative people including renowned artists, poets and collectors, can be found within the collection. These photographs document French designer and art collector Jacques Doucet at a dress fitting with two ladies and a photograph of Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali in conversation. 

 
 
Jacques Doucet in his atelier, 1910 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Jacques Doucet in his atelier, 1910 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
 
Salvador Dali, c.1970 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / Bridgeman Images
Salvador Dali, c.1970 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / Bridgeman Images

 

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is a ghost that reportedly haunts Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England. It became one of the most famous hauntings in Great Britain when photographers from Country Life magazine claimed to have captured its image. The "Brown Lady" is so named because of the brown brocade dress it is claimed she wears.

 

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, September 1936 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, September 1936 (b/w photo), French Photographer, (20th century) / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

Jean-Loup Charmet passed away on 1 March 2001. Charmet’s work adds to our resources at Bridgeman Images. Mr Charmet’s work captured adventure, a certain idea of photography, vitality and a singular approach. Charmet’s posters, photographs and illustrations represent France and international sources giving viewers astounding information.

 
 
Portrait of Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) (oil on canvas), Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74) / La Sorbonne, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Portrait of Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) (oil on canvas), Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74) / La Sorbonne, Paris, France / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
 
 
Book written by Pierre d'Auberoche and dedicated to Cardinal Mazarin (1602-61): 'Eminentissimo principi Julio cardinali Mazarino, patritio Romano, Ludovici decimiquarti parenti lustrico, Franciae propugnatori studiosissimo'. Published in Paris by Antoine Coulon.

 

Cover of a book owned by Cardinal Mazarin, with the finishing showing the cardinal's emblems of stars and fasces, 1644 (leather and gilding), French School, (17th century) / Bibliotheque Mazarine, Paris, France / Bridgeman Images
Cover of a book owned by Cardinal Mazarin, with the finishing showing the cardinal's emblems of stars and fasces, 1644 (leather and gilding), French School, (17th century) / Bibliotheque Mazarine, Paris, France / Bridgeman Images

 

Would you like to see more images from the Charmet Archive available on our website? View our selection

 

For any further information about this and other collections, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

 
photo of Amerigo Vespucci navigating by the stars on his 3rd voyage (colour litho), French School / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images
Amerigo Vespucci navigating by the stars on his 3rd voyage (colour litho), French School / Private Collection / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

 

 

Sources:

 

https://www.corridorelephant.com/chroniques/le-temps-des-p%C3%A9pites?fbclid=IwAR3MwzR6qy0hYLZfrv2w3SFFoAJ6jzWuyp8yhsGy8ZXepXzzdA0PO-5w-2o

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9couvertes_Gallimard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Desnos

 

 

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