I thought, I really loved the burned photograms (which I do), but then I saw the photos of the Louvre… the photo you have is awesome! Just imagine what would have happened if the Nazi‘s gotten hold of it all.
Thank you, Susanne! I appreciate your comment! I read a couple of other things, as I was working on this one. One, that they moved the winged Victory to another room recently. It took them six days to move it about 100 meters. Second, I read that the Count prevented paintings by German artists from being consolidated in Berlin. He argued it should not happen until after the war had ended. Given there were barely two bricks on top of each other when Berlin fell, they would all have been gone, and we would be much poorer for it. Good for the Count!
A fascinating read, Søren. I love the 'frame within a frame' image that you have - the timing of the exposure couldn't have been better. A remarkable story of a wonderful photographer. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Ralph! It is a great photograph, which I bought not knowing the story at all, if I am honest. I started to look around after and found the beginnings of the story, which followed a book that is on my list for tomorrow’s Photobook Sunday. I worked back from there. I have seen advertising photographs by Jahan in the past, but never any from the Louvre return, aside from my little photograph. He made some really exceptional photographs, very diverse, but always excellent.
I had no idea of the story of moving the art around during the war. That was great to read. And for those who question the role that art plays in society, I think it's a good reminder of, actually, culturally and spiritually, how important and also powerful art is for us all.
Indeed! Thank you for reading, Jason! Much appreciated. Art is our cultural legacy, when all the chips are down, it is all that remains from our past. Thank you for your comment!
Hi Søren, after my morning rituals, I love it when time is slower and I can cozy up to the laptop with my Saturday coffee and read your stack. This one was particularly intriguing. Of course, I never knew Pierre's work, but will be adding him to my list of investigations. The fascinating part was Jacques Jaujard and his (as you put it) heroic actions. What a story! And how did you find the Mona Lisa sheets? Amazing work here, thank you!
Hey Juliette, I am grateful for your Saturday morning read of my Post. The contacts were something I have saved from as show I saw ages ago of Jahan’s work, which was a mix of prints and these original contacts. I never really thought I would use them for anything other than my own background to the photograph I bought, but there you are. Sometimes, things come together in ways you do not expect. Hence my post.
Many thanks, Glen! It was a great dive and a difficult time to reduce it to something manageable. The Louvre story is remarkable how many people - Germans and French - who knew the truth, yet were able to keep this a secret for the duration, and the German’s High Command never figured it out! It is unbelievable and truly a miracle. I am equally impressed with the work of Mr. Jahan, who was prolific, yet, remains largely unknown.
Holy crackers, what a story (or I should say set of stories)!
Thank you for introducing me to Jahan's work. And I had only know the outlines of how the Louvre hid its treasures. Jahan's documentation of their return is fascinating.
PS "Le Rectangle"? I wonder how that could be translated into English! ;)
Thank you, Jeremy, for reading! Your comment is great. I am fascinated by the fact that a pro photographer was given access to the return and made this set of photographs, which to my knowledge have never been published as a whole, only in bits and pieces. There is a book there for someone, who has the will and juice to make it happen. I guarantee the sale of at least one copy! ‘Le Rectangle’ is interesting to me, because so many members of the group used Rolleiflex, or similar square format cameras. But, I guess a square is a rectangle, but, a rectangle (35 mm) is not a square? 😃 Therefore 'Le Rectangle’ and not ‘Le carré’?
I recently inherited an uncle's Rollei! It probably hasn't been used in 40 years. I'm tempted to get it refurbished although the small town I live in has no camera repair shops.
And it might be a fool's errand anyway as I have tried and failed in the past to master twin-lens reflex cameras. Never could get the hang of leveling them. But then, maybe that's a feature, not a bug.
I'm tempted to form my own photo group and I'll call it "Le rectangle et le carré", because I am open-minded when it comes to aspect ratios! Would you like to be a charter member?
I just read your great post about a new, unknown, great photographer whom I had never heard about. I couldn’t have enjoyed it better than to read it surrounded by the Dinara mountains in inland Dalmatia. A region that not so long ago (although people tend to forget quickly inconvenient things) suffered the tragedies of an invasion not by another country but by an ‘enemy’ within. There isn’t a Louvre here but as it happens all the time in war times, a lot has been piled, stolen and mostly destroyed to the point of no return. Art is not measured in inches but in what they mean for a community or a country. Loosing a lot of your entity linked to art because of aggression and destruction, is painful.
Wonderful photographs the ones of the art pieces returning home to the Louvre. And I love the selfie of Jahan. That selfie could have been done nowadays. Reason to say that somethings never change. Thank you for introducing me again to another great image maker and apologies for my little detour about the destruction of art during war times.
Thank you, Luz! It is an amazing photographer, and a great story about the near loss of so much of our cultural history. It has happened many times before this story, and many times since, as you have described. At least the Louvre is there still for all to enjoy. Though I appreciate that not all were that lucky!
I like your detour, and I do appreciate your comment very much! Enjoy your trip.
Thank you, Marcel! It is such a great story. Hard to capture in a short post, but so many things could have gone wrong, which did not. How many people kept their mouths shut, how many were complicit in this story and never said a word, including the Count!
I thought, I really loved the burned photograms (which I do), but then I saw the photos of the Louvre… the photo you have is awesome! Just imagine what would have happened if the Nazi‘s gotten hold of it all.
Thank you for sharing! Another excellent read…
Thank you, Susanne! I appreciate your comment! I read a couple of other things, as I was working on this one. One, that they moved the winged Victory to another room recently. It took them six days to move it about 100 meters. Second, I read that the Count prevented paintings by German artists from being consolidated in Berlin. He argued it should not happen until after the war had ended. Given there were barely two bricks on top of each other when Berlin fell, they would all have been gone, and we would be much poorer for it. Good for the Count!
Another great story !
Than you, Sylvie! He is a great photographer, it would be a shame if he is forgotten entirely!
Thank you for bringing attention to him!
Hey Manuela, thank you for reading. An excellent photographer, who deserves some proper attention. It was an exciting time to be a photographer.
soooo fascinating, awesome story and images!
Thank you, Skylar! He is a great photographer and the Louvre story is just so amazing on its own. His being there to unpack is just so cool!
The photo with the frame around the workers is a masterclass in composition! Thanks for sharing, Søren.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my post, Saptarishi. It is a wonderful image, for sure!!
Truly delightful ! Thank you for sharing these pictures and the story about saving the works in the Louvre.
Many thanks, Anne! It is a remarkable story and a remarkable photographer. Thank you for reading.
Another wonderful story. Always learning from your articles.
Thank you, Ruben! I am glad!!
A fascinating read, Søren. I love the 'frame within a frame' image that you have - the timing of the exposure couldn't have been better. A remarkable story of a wonderful photographer. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Ralph! It is a great photograph, which I bought not knowing the story at all, if I am honest. I started to look around after and found the beginnings of the story, which followed a book that is on my list for tomorrow’s Photobook Sunday. I worked back from there. I have seen advertising photographs by Jahan in the past, but never any from the Louvre return, aside from my little photograph. He made some really exceptional photographs, very diverse, but always excellent.
I had no idea of the story of moving the art around during the war. That was great to read. And for those who question the role that art plays in society, I think it's a good reminder of, actually, culturally and spiritually, how important and also powerful art is for us all.
Indeed! Thank you for reading, Jason! Much appreciated. Art is our cultural legacy, when all the chips are down, it is all that remains from our past. Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for the introduction to such a wonderful photographer!
Thank you, Alicia! He is great, and should not be forgotten!
Both an excellent story and an excellent photographer - neither of which I was aware of. Thank you.
Thank you, James, I am glad you enjoyed this tiny piece of the Pierre Jahan story. Thank you for reading!
Hi Søren, after my morning rituals, I love it when time is slower and I can cozy up to the laptop with my Saturday coffee and read your stack. This one was particularly intriguing. Of course, I never knew Pierre's work, but will be adding him to my list of investigations. The fascinating part was Jacques Jaujard and his (as you put it) heroic actions. What a story! And how did you find the Mona Lisa sheets? Amazing work here, thank you!
Hey Juliette, I am grateful for your Saturday morning read of my Post. The contacts were something I have saved from as show I saw ages ago of Jahan’s work, which was a mix of prints and these original contacts. I never really thought I would use them for anything other than my own background to the photograph I bought, but there you are. Sometimes, things come together in ways you do not expect. Hence my post.
They are beautiful. Great decision!
A wonderful story, Soren - such a pleasure, always, to read your work!
Many thanks, Glen! It was a great dive and a difficult time to reduce it to something manageable. The Louvre story is remarkable how many people - Germans and French - who knew the truth, yet were able to keep this a secret for the duration, and the German’s High Command never figured it out! It is unbelievable and truly a miracle. I am equally impressed with the work of Mr. Jahan, who was prolific, yet, remains largely unknown.
Holy crackers, what a story (or I should say set of stories)!
Thank you for introducing me to Jahan's work. And I had only know the outlines of how the Louvre hid its treasures. Jahan's documentation of their return is fascinating.
PS "Le Rectangle"? I wonder how that could be translated into English! ;)
Thank you, Jeremy, for reading! Your comment is great. I am fascinated by the fact that a pro photographer was given access to the return and made this set of photographs, which to my knowledge have never been published as a whole, only in bits and pieces. There is a book there for someone, who has the will and juice to make it happen. I guarantee the sale of at least one copy! ‘Le Rectangle’ is interesting to me, because so many members of the group used Rolleiflex, or similar square format cameras. But, I guess a square is a rectangle, but, a rectangle (35 mm) is not a square? 😃 Therefore 'Le Rectangle’ and not ‘Le carré’?
I recently inherited an uncle's Rollei! It probably hasn't been used in 40 years. I'm tempted to get it refurbished although the small town I live in has no camera repair shops.
And it might be a fool's errand anyway as I have tried and failed in the past to master twin-lens reflex cameras. Never could get the hang of leveling them. But then, maybe that's a feature, not a bug.
I'm tempted to form my own photo group and I'll call it "Le rectangle et le carré", because I am open-minded when it comes to aspect ratios! Would you like to be a charter member?
It would be my honour!
Dear Søren,
I just read your great post about a new, unknown, great photographer whom I had never heard about. I couldn’t have enjoyed it better than to read it surrounded by the Dinara mountains in inland Dalmatia. A region that not so long ago (although people tend to forget quickly inconvenient things) suffered the tragedies of an invasion not by another country but by an ‘enemy’ within. There isn’t a Louvre here but as it happens all the time in war times, a lot has been piled, stolen and mostly destroyed to the point of no return. Art is not measured in inches but in what they mean for a community or a country. Loosing a lot of your entity linked to art because of aggression and destruction, is painful.
Wonderful photographs the ones of the art pieces returning home to the Louvre. And I love the selfie of Jahan. That selfie could have been done nowadays. Reason to say that somethings never change. Thank you for introducing me again to another great image maker and apologies for my little detour about the destruction of art during war times.
Thank you, Luz! It is an amazing photographer, and a great story about the near loss of so much of our cultural history. It has happened many times before this story, and many times since, as you have described. At least the Louvre is there still for all to enjoy. Though I appreciate that not all were that lucky!
I like your detour, and I do appreciate your comment very much! Enjoy your trip.
What a great essay, Søren. Again an unknown photographer and story for me to dig into. Thanks
Thank you, Marcel! It is such a great story. Hard to capture in a short post, but so many things could have gone wrong, which did not. How many people kept their mouths shut, how many were complicit in this story and never said a word, including the Count!