Robert Doisneau (1912–1994) - L'accordéniste de Mouffetard

Robert Doisneau (1912–1994)
The accordionist of Mouffetard, photograph 1951
Gelatin silver print on baryta paper
Back with agency sticker 'Robert Doisneau / Rapho – The Accordionist of Mouffetard – 1951 – Agence Rapho, 8 rue d’Alger, 75001 Paris'
Print dimensions: 18 cm x 24 cm
Photo excerpt: 16 cm x 20 cm
Condition: excellent

This silver gelatin print depicts one of Robert Doisneau's classic street scene motifs: an accordion player in the Parisian neighborhood of Mouffetard. The photograph was taken in 1951 and is part of Doisneau's poetic-humanist studies of post-war Paris.

The present print originates from the Rapho Agency and is a later silver gelatin print produced by the agency. This can be clearly identified by the information on the reverse sticker: the postal code '75001' was only introduced in 1972, and the eight-digit Parisian phone number in the format '42 XX XX XX' dates back to the early 1980s at the earliest. Therefore, it is not a contemporary print from 1951, but a later analog lab print, which was most likely made from the original negative or its first generation, as Rapho managed the Doisneau archive.

The print is made on classic baryt photographic paper, with a matte to semi-matte surface that is typical for high-quality Rapho darkroom prints. The fine gradations, precise black values, and detail depth correspond to traditional silver gelatin techniques.

The condition is excellent: no bends, no silver deposits, clean edges.