The Postcard as a Snapshot in Time

Café de l'Hôtel de France après son saccagement par les grévistes (1er janvier 1925) Café de l'Hôtel de France après son saccagement par les grévistes (1er janvier 1925)Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

At a time when illustrated newspapers were still rare and expensive, and newsreels were an oddity, postcards were a way to capture almost every aspect of society.

Roscoff.- La Baleine échouée en Décembre 1904 Roscoff.- La Baleine échouée en Décembre 1904Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Whether on a casual or regular basis, amateur and professional photographers everywhere have been taking pictures of Brittany since 1900.

Le Progrès en Bretagne Le Progrès en BretagneLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

They have captured both a modern and new France, everyday life, and exceptional current events, as well as the country's older aspects.

Saint-Malo - Naufrage du 'Hilda' Saint-Malo - Naufrage du 'Hilda'Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

In 1900, it took around three days for a postcard to be published, but by 1909, this time had been shortened and a postcard celebrating an event could be published within a few hours of taking the picture.

Inauguration du Monument Brizeux au Pont Kerlo en Arzanno Inauguration du Monument Brizeux au Pont Kerlo en ArzannoLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The Postcard as Media

NANTES - Les glaces en Loire NANTES - Les glaces en LoireLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

News of maritime disasters, inaugurations and celebrations, storms, cyclones, heat waves and floods were spread by postcard.

La Journée d'Aviation à l'Aérodrome de Cesson (Octobre 1910) La Journée d'Aviation à l'Aérodrome de Cesson (Octobre 1910)Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Fires, birthdays—especially centenaries, which were celebrated extensively—official visits, motor races, and records of the dawn of aviation were also subjects of the main news stories in these postcards.

Convoi de prisonniers Allemands Convoi de prisonniers AllemandsLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The First World War was only covered at its onset until instructions given on April 21, 1915 by the Ministry of War placed controls on the cards published relating to the fighting and the zones occupied by the military.

La Vie au Champ La Vie au ChampLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The Postcard as a Snapshot of Everyday Life

La Boutique du Marchand de Cheveux La Boutique du Marchand de CheveuxLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Postcard publishers were particularly attentive to small traders. The postcard provides us with an ethnographic mine of insight into these small trades that would disappear or change profoundly after the Great War (World War I).

Célébrités du pays : la mère Morice Célébrités du pays : la mère MoriceLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Small rural trades, clog makers, wood splitters, basket makers, and laundry women are all shown in abundance.

Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville Place de l'Hôtel-de-VilleLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

... Snapshot of Popular Pastimes

Pardon de BENODET Pardon de BENODETLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Goat-driven carts and wooden horse carousels are among popular pastimes also captured on the postcard.
All that is missing is the sound of the barrel organ, the laughter and the sound of children to reproduce the party atmosphere.

Carte ayant probablement servie de reçu pour une facture payée. Servait sans doute également de publicité pour Jh Berthaux, horloger. Carte ayant probablement servie de reçu pour une facture payée. Servait sans doute également de publicité pour Jh Berthaux, horloger.Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

… Snapshot of Craft Activities

Un Atelier de Moulage Un Atelier de MoulageLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Many craft activities have been the subject of postcards, which are clearly for advertising purposes. What could be better than an image of the craftsman at work in his studio to highlight the excellence of his creations?

Chauffage et carénage d'un Brick Goëlette Chauffage et carénage d'un Brick GoëletteLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

… Snapshot of Seafaring Occupations

Ne pas reproduire Ne pas reproduireLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

There are plenty of photographs of seafaring occupations featuring their traditional aspects, such as fishermen or more contemporary aspects, such as this deep-sea diver.

PLOUDALMEZEAU (Finistère). - La Machine à battre PLOUDALMEZEAU (Finistère). - La Machine à battreLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

… Snapshot of the Rural World

La Récolte des Artichauts La Récolte des ArtichautsLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The rural world in all its diversity has given rise to hundreds of postcards. And even if the poses may sometimes seem a little forced, the costumes and faces have an authenticity that only photography and the postcard could most accurately reproduce.

Le Rémouleur Le RémouleurLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

… Snapshot of Street Traders and Local Celebrities

Pleugueneuc (I.-et-V.) - Le gars Eugène et son pur-sang 'Miston' Pleugueneuc (I.-et-V.) - Le gars Eugène et son pur-sang 'Miston'Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

It is with a gaze - nostalgic, precise, and historical at the same time—that photographers focused on local celebrities who made the towns and the small street traders famous.

Carte écrite pendant la guerre mais pas de précision de date Carte écrite pendant la guerre mais pas de précision de dateLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The Postcard, an Image of the Towns and Villages of the Early 20th Century

Lorient et Ploemeur. La Villeneuve - Une partie du chemin de La Villeneuve et derrière l'hôpital Bodélio à la Villeneuve en Lorient et Ploemeur Lorient et Ploemeur. La Villeneuve - Une partie du chemin de La Villeneuve et derrière l'hôpital Bodélio à la Villeneuve en Lorient et Ploemeur (1910-07-06)Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

The postcard accurately reflected the topography of towns and villages. Besides the tourist postcard with great monuments, aimed at a passing clientele, there were also postcards for locals.

ALIMENTATION GENERALE - EPICERIE ALIMENTATION GENERALE - EPICERIELe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

To satisfy this demand, the small publishers, who were often merchants in the town (such as grocers or coffee makers), had images produced of their store's immediate surroundings.

Marché aux poulets place de l'église Marché aux poulets place de l'église (1909-06-03)Le Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

Popular neighborhoods, crossroads, squares, markets, fairs, public fountains, wash houses, mills, cafes, inns, and railway stations were all tirelessly reproduced.

GUINGAMP (C.-du-N.) - Maison Le Berre, dépositaire de Journaux, Libraire, Editeur GUINGAMP (C.-du-N.) - Maison Le Berre, dépositaire de Journaux, Libraire, EditeurLe Carton Voyageur - Musée de la carte postale

These cards were indeed likely to tempt the casual traveler, but it was the local clientele in particular who, for a ridiculously low price, could send an image of their neighborhood, or even their own image captured by the photographer.

Credits: Story

Thanks to:
The town of Baud
Le Carton Voyageur - Postcard Museum

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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