Stickybacks in France

The French photos below appear to be Stickybacks - the uncut multiples clearly depict the same image, rather than the changing poses in a strip of photobooth portraits. The images have a plain background and an information strip shows the photographer's details and a job number. Sizes are not dissimilar to UK Stickybacks photos. The Stickybacks name does not appear, but clearly the concept travelled to France. We have not yet come across any individual stickyback photographers from the UK who took the concept directly to France. We would very much welcome any information from French collectors on the emergence and spread of the genre in France.

In 1911, in a letter to the editor on the subject of photographers’ assistants in France, Godfrey Wilson, who had worked for some years in that country wrote: “I am very strongly convinced that the French professional portraitists may be divided into two distinct classes, the tip top men and the third rate, stickyback or postcard man. Good middle class workers seem to me to be very scarce indeed throughout France”
British Journal of photography June 16 1911 p466.

Address: 43 Boulevard St Martin Paris, 26 Rue de Rivoli Paris, 5 Boulevard Ornano, 81 Faubourg du Temple, 11 Faubourg St Martin
Possible Practitioner: LA PHOTO MECANIQUE
Operating dates: 1914 - 1922?
References: The photographs below very closely mirror the UK Stickyback, although the name "Stickyback" is not used. The firm's name is probably best untranslated, although it could perhaps be translated to "The Photo Workshop" or similar. Note that the WW1 uniform postcard portrait has included in the image a job or negative number, 253, just visible in the lower LH edge.

Address: Marseille (Cannebiere 18).
Possible Practitioner: Not currently known
Operating dates: 1910 - 1920?
References: See below, three portraits of unknown women. Note the identical poses of the first two examples. These portraits all seem to suggest a more accomplished photographer than most of those in the Stickyback trade. Images reproduced with the kind permission of Irma Benedetto

Address: Rue Alsace 14. Town not currently known
Possible Practitioner: Not currently known
Operating dates: 1910 - 1920?
References: See below example stickyback of an unknown young woman. We have been unable to match the street to a town. Image reproduced with the kind permission of Irma Benedetto

• Stickybacks outside the United Kingdom
• Stickybacks in Hungary
• Stickybacks in The Netherlands
• Stickybacks in France
• Stickybacks in Belgium
• Stickybacks in Germany
• Stickybacks in Italy
• Stickybacks in Tasmania / Australia

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