Gaspard-Félix Tournachon

author · photographer

French^[1,2] b. 5 April 1820, Paris, France^[1,2] d. 20 March 1910, Paris, France^[1,2] active 1850–1910

Félix Nadar (born Gaspard-Félix Tournachon on April 5, 1820, in Paris, France; died March 20, 1910, in Paris) was a pioneering French photographer, caricaturist, novelist, and balloonist. He was a central figure in the development of studio photography in the 19th century, establishing one of the first commercial studios in Paris. Known for his artistic portraits of the era's leading cultural figures—including actors, dancers, and intellectuals—his work is celebrated for its naturalistic poses and dramatic lighting. Nadar was also an early advocate for aviation, making some of the first photographs from a balloon. His autobiographical writings, such as 'Quand j'étais photographe' (translated as 'Toen ik fotograaf was'), offer valuable insights into the artistic and technical evolution of photography during the Belle Époque.^[1,2]

• Portraiture
• Ballooning
• Belle Époque
• Aviation

Works by Gaspard-Félix Tournachon

• 2000 Toen ik fotograaf was Uitgeverij De Arbeiderspers · book · Dutch · ISBN 9029535547 Dutch translation of the autobiographical work
• Quand j'étais photographe book · French Original French title of the book
• 1858 Le Studio book Catalogue of his photography studio

References

1. Britannica. Nadar. Britannica. Britannica link
2. Wikipedia. Nadar. Wikipedia. Wikipedia link
3. Goodreads. Toen ik fotograaf was. Goodreads. Goodreads. 2000 link