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Etienne CarjatFrench cartoonist, photographer, writer and journalist
Date of Birth: 28.03.1828
Country:  France |
Content:
- Étienne Carjat: Prolific French Artist and Chronicler
- Notable Friendships and Collaborations
- Association with Parisian Literary Elite
- Support for the Commune and Revolutionary Activism
- Legacy and Artistic Contributions
Étienne Carjat: Prolific French Artist and Chronicler
Early Life and Artistic TrainingBorn the son of a concierge, Étienne Carjat received his early education in photography under the tutelage of Pierre Petit. In 1861, he established his own studio on Rue Lafitte in Paris.
Notable Friendships and Collaborations
Carjat formed close friendships with influential figures of the time, including Gustave Courbet and Charles Baudelaire. He is celebrated for his photographic portrait of Baudelaire, as well as portraits of Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Gioachino Rossini, and Giuseppe Verdi. Carjat's collaboration with "Le Diogène," a satirical newspaper of which he was a co-founder, solidified his reputation as a caricaturist.
Association with Parisian Literary Elite
Carjat became part of the circle known as "Les Vilains Bonhommes," which included writers such as Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud, as well as poets Théodore de Banville and Henri Fantin-Latour. During a heated dispute in 1872, Carjat was injured by Rimbaud and subsequently destroyed the printing plates of his photographs, leaving only eight surviving images.
Support for the Commune and Revolutionary Activism
Carjat aligned himself with the Paris Commune and contributed to revolutionary press. In 1875, he launched the magazine "Le Boulevard," which featured satirical and biographical works.
Legacy and Artistic Contributions
Carjat left behind an extensive body of caricatures and photographs, capturing the cultural landscape of his time. His works offer a poignant glimpse into the lives and relationships of literary and artistic giants. As a pioneer in photography and a prolific chronicler of the Parisian intellectual elite, Étienne Carjat remains an influential figure in the history of art.
