French Criminals, c. 1930

THESE HIGHLY RETOUCHED FRENCH CRIMINALS from the late 1920s to 1930s, are available at Charles Schwartz, LTD., through the online gallery iPhoto Central. Printed in Le Petit Parisien, these montages are from a series of images of French criminals that were reproduced in the tabloid newspaper, where photos of wanted and condemned criminals appeared each day. Name of subject and printing date inscribed in pen verso. Société du Petit Parisien date stamp verso. Prints were hand painted in order to heighten contrast, so that they could be better reproduced in a newspaper. This retouching is attributed to two Italians. From the collection “Juges et Assasins.”

An AM repost from 1-31-09.