NADAR'S PIERROT SERIES Tap/Click on photos for full-screen popups.
The photographs in the Pierrot Series were taken between 1854 and 55. Nadar hired French mime Charles Deburau (the son of famous mime Baptiste Deburau) to play the character Pierrot in a series of photos Nadar hoped to show and sell to publicize the brothers' new studio. The portfolio was a whimsical catalog of theatrical expressions (surprised, running, imploring, with fruit, laughing, etc.).
Nadar's Pierrot Series 2 of 5
There is a big controversy around who actually took the photographs. While one could argue that Adrien was perhaps intitially more skilled and "painterly" with his approach to photography, his older brother Felix was definitely the one with the vision, connectiions, money, ambition, and conversational skills to put his subjects at ease.
Nadar's Pierrot Series 3 of 5
Most art historians believe it was a real collaboration, but when the photos were exhibited at the Exhibition Universelle (World's Fair) of 1855, Adrien was credited as sole auteur for which he received the Gold Medal. It is hard to understand how sensational this series was, perhaps rivalling Nadar's *Pantheon." the print which was a Who's Who of France's literary icons.
Nadar's Pierrot Series 5 of 5
Tensions arose over money, like they would through Felix's whole life, and reputation—they bitterly fought over the presitigious Nadar name (Adrien used Nadar jeune, the younger, for years until his older brother's relentless lawsuit forbade it). Following their estrangement, Nadar's photographic career accelerated, while Adrien, sadly, was never able to equal his older brother's success.
