{"product_id":"bergeret-petites-bonnes-soeurs-5-postcards","title":"5 Antique Bergeret Postcards – Petites Bonnes Sœurs – French Religious Satire, Early 1900s","description":"\u003ch2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePetites Bonnes Sœurs – Religious Satire and Childhood Theatre in Belle Époque France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unusual set of five original antique French photographic postcards published by A. Bergeret \u0026amp; Cie in Nancy, France, during the early 20th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEntitled \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePetites Bonnes Sœurs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (Little Sisters of Charity), this remarkable series features children dressed in religious and military-inspired costumes, performing theatrical scenes that combine innocence, religious symbolism and subtle satire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe photographs reflect the taste for staged humorous postcards during the French Belle Époque, when publishers frequently explored contemporary social customs, political debates and religious themes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe imagery may also be understood in the context of the tensions surrounding religious congregations in France during the early years of the Third Republic's secularisation policies, particularly at the beginning of the 1900s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach postcard bears the original series title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePetites Bonnes Sœurs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, accompanied by an individual French caption printed in red.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Five Postcards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1. Expulsée – La foi adoucit l'infortune (Expelled – Faith Softens Misfortune)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA young girl dressed as a nun looks upwards with a solemn expression. Holding a rosary and carrying a small bundle of belongings, she appears to have been expelled from her religious home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn evocative composition that may allude to the expulsion of religious congregations in early 20th-century France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2. La Protection (Protection)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA young girl dressed as a nun stands protectively beside a kneeling boy wearing a military-style uniform.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe raises a crucifix, creating a dramatic and theatrical scene combining religious devotion and protection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3. Le Converti (The Convert)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA boy kneels with his hands clasped in prayer before a young girl dressed as a nun.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHolding a crucifix, she raises her other hand in a commanding gesture, creating a striking image of religious conversion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4. Fervente Prière (Fervent Prayer)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA young girl in a traditional nun's costume stands in a solemn prayerful pose, holding a crucifix near a wooden chair draped with fabric.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA carefully arranged studio photograph evoking religious contemplation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5. La plus belle mort (The Most Beautiful Death)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA young boy dressed in a military-style costume lies on the ground while the little nun stands beside him with her hands joined in prayer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis dramatic staged composition combines childhood theatre, religious imagery and a poignant, possibly satirical interpretation of sacrifice and devotion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Interest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese photographs belong to the tradition of humorous and theatrical French postcards published around the turn of the 20th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe series is particularly interesting for its use of religious symbolism, children's costumes and photographic storytelling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpulsée\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e may refer to the political and religious tensions that affected Catholic congregations in France during the early 1900s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeyond their decorative charm, the five postcards offer an unusual glimpse into the social attitudes, visual culture and satirical photography of Belle Époque France.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeries:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Petites Bonnes Sœurs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A. Bergeret \u0026amp; Cie, Nancy, France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Early 20th century, circa 1900–1905\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 5 original antique postcards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Expulsée, La Protection, Le Converti, Fervente Prière and La plus belle mort\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeries completeness:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Five different cards from the series; completeness of the original published series has not been established\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 9 × 14 cm (3.5 × 5.5 inches) per postcard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Antique phototypie photographic printing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e French\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReference:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e BG-08\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSold as:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e One set of five original antique postcards, exactly as photographed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthentic antique French postcards showing natural signs of age and previous postal use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cards present age-related discolouration, scattered foxing, occasional surface marks and minor wear to the edges and corners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeveral illustrated fronts retain handwritten greetings, personal inscriptions and signatures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll five postcards have circulated through the French postal system and retain original postage stamps, handwritten addresses and period postal cancellations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse sides appear to have been addressed to the same recipient, Mademoiselle Marie Bonnin, in Prény, Meurthe-et-Moselle, adding an interesting connection to their postal history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe postcards have not been restored and retain their authentic antique appearance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease examine all photographs carefully, as they form an essential part of the description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Distinctive Collection of French Historical Ephemera\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unusual ensemble for collectors of antique French postcards, Belle Époque photography, religious history, satirical imagery, childhood portraits and historical paper collectibles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe theatrical compositions and evocative costumes also make these postcards an intriguing addition to a cabinet of curiosities, historical archive or collection of antique French documents.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will receive the five original antique postcards shown in the photographs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escritorie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54309937250651,"sku":"BG-08","price":37.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1035\/7935\/3435\/files\/img120-composition-5-documents.jpg?v=1791724861","url":"https:\/\/escritorie.com\/products\/bergeret-petites-bonnes-soeurs-5-postcards","provider":"Escritorie","version":"1.0","type":"link"}