About This Image

This image comes from a small group of intimate and very rare Zola photographs. The place and identifications are in period pen on the recto of the image. Médan was the town that Zola bought a home and garden in after his book L'Assommoir became a best seller. Charpentier was Zola's friend and editor and the Charpentier family were welcomed guests of the Zola's and vice versa. Henry Céard was a noted writer and a contributor to the Soirées de Médan. A noted author (one of the first to use slang words), Zola was marked by his staunch and famous defense of Alfred Dreyfuss. He was also an amateur photographer, who owned at least ten cameras. Zola counted photographers Nadar, Pierre Petit and Etienne Carjat among his many friends. But Victor Billaud, the writer, poet, editor, and journalist of Royan, who had joined Zola's entourage there in 1888, introduced the writer to photography. There is some question as to who actually took these photographs, but Zola later often set up shots and had friends actually snap the picture. See: Emile-Zola and Massin, Zola Photographer, pl.5 for a variant pose of these three. Provenance: collector Romi; and Andre Jammes.

Most U.S. domestic Fed Ex ground shipping (Media Mail for books) is free of charge except for larger and heavier items, or unless the buyer wants express shipping (email us your requests for the latter). International shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their local customs duties and taxes, which will be charged by Fed Ex, which will contact the client prior to delivery.