Étienne Carjat was a prominent French photographer, journalist, caricaturist, and poet. Born in Fareins in 1828, he moved to Paris where he established his photography studio on Rue Laffitte in 1861. He became one of the most renowned portrait photographers of the mid-to-late 19th century, capturing images of major figures in arts, politics, and theater, including Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire, and Arthur Rimbaud. Carjat was also a significant caricaturist, co-founding journals like 'Le Boulevard' and 'Diogène'. His photographic style is noted for its focus on the subject, often eschewing elaborate backgrounds. He was a member of the 'Vilains Bonshommes' group of poets and artists. Despite his fame, much of his work was lost in 1923 after being sold to a private collector.[1,3,4]
