Boris Lipnitzki, a Russian photographer chronicling the 30s' Paris
Haïm Lipnitzky discovered photography at an early age. Music was his other passion. Facing pogroms and revolutions, the Lipnitzkys, of Jewish faith, left Ukraine and arrived in France in the 1920s. The young man took the name Boris Lipnitzki and became a photographer. The exiled aristocracy introduced Boris to Paul Poiret, a famous fashion designer who entrusted him with photographing his collections. Boris began to take portraits of aristocrats and extended his activities to the press. The young immigrant sensed it was time to open his own photographic studio.
Foujita posing with his painting “Les Chevaux” (Horses). Paris, circa 1925.
40x60 cm print.
Giorgio de Chirico posing with his painting “Le Consolateur” (The Consoler). Paris, 1929.
40x50 cm print.
Marc Chagall posing with his painting “Solitude” (1933). August 1934.
40x40 cm print.
Marc Chagall posing with his painting “Les Arlequins” (Harlequins). August 1934.
50x50 cm print.
Georges Braque posing with one of his paintings from the “Ateliers” (Studios) series. Paris, 1949.
40x40 cm print.
Wassily Kandinsky posing with his painting “Courbe dominante” (Dominant Curve). Paris, December 1936.
40x40 cm print.
Leonor Fini in her studio. Paris, 1954.
40x40 cm print.
Pablo Picasso in the studio Madoura, painting his ceramic “Sphère décorée d’une nature morte à la bouteille de vin” (Sphere decorated with still life and wine bottle). Vallauris (France), 1948.
50x50 cm print.
The Lipnitzki studio: 109 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré (1922-1936)
Composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev ran in this new Parisian studio. Boris Lipnitzki spoke Russian to Wassily Kandinsky and Marc Chagall, painters who also posed for him. The photographer’s name also became famous among musicians such as Maurice Ravel and members of the group “Les Six” gathering Arthur Honegger, Louis Durey, Germaine Tailleferre, Georges Auric, Darius Milhaud and Jean Cocteau. Lipnitzki portrayed those he admired and worshipped. Up to 1924, he used his camera to immortalize Paul Poiret's parties for the Tout Paris in his private hotel. He also attended events in the most fashionable places of the time: the Molitor pool and seaside resorts such as Deauville, Monaco or Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
From 1922 to 1939, Lipnitzki worked with many fashion designers. Coco Chanel posed in her fashion boutique on rue Cambon. He also worked with Elsa Schiaparelli and Cristóbal Balenciaga, photographing their models for Femina, Le Jardin des modes, Marie-Claire and Vogue.
As the studio became famous, the artistic world got more and more interested in Boris Lipnitzki’s work. The photographer thus worked with many singers and music hall artists such as Edith Piaf, Josephine Baker or Yves Montand. He also portrayed iconic figures from theatre and cinema: Carl Dreyer, Buster Keaton, Louis Jouvet (as Don Juan) and Albert Dieudonné (as Napoléon in Abel Gance’s movie). Lipnitzki’s talent also aroused interest among painters: Giorgio De Chirico, Leonor Fini, Foujita, Pablo Picasso, and writers: André Breton, Colette, Marguerite Duras, James Joyce, Pierre Prévert, Jean-Paul Sartre and Boris Vian. Working with such famous personalities contributed to Lipnitzki’s fame.
Jacques Prévert with Pablo Picasso. Cannes (France), April 1951.
40x40 cm print.
André Breton in his study. Paris, 1955.
50x50 cm print.
Jean-Paul Sartre during a rehearsal of his play “La Putain respectueuse” (The Respectful Whore). Paris, Théâtre Antoine, 1946.
40x40 cm print.
James Joyce. Paris, 1934.
40x40 cm print.
Marguerite Duras. Paris, 1955.
40x40 cm print.
Boris Vian attending a rehearsal of his play “J’irai cracher sur vos tombes” (I Shall Spit on Your Graves). Paris, Théâtre Verlaine, April 1948.
40x40 cm print.
Jean Cocteau in a set by Christian Bérard. 1934.
40x40 cm print.
Jean Cocteau in a set by Christian Bérard. 1934.
50x50 cm print.
Les Six : from left to right, Francis Poulenc, Germaine Tailleferre, Jean Cocteau who joined the composers group, Louis Durey, Darius Milhaud, Arthur Honegger et Georges Auric, absent, drawn by Cocteau. Paris, 1931.
50x50 cm print.
Igor Stravinsky. Paris, June 1924.
20x30 cm print.
Serge Prokofiev. Paris, June 1924.
30x40 cm print.
Maurice Ravel, circa 1930.
30x40 cm print.
Arthur Honegger. Paris, circa 1930.
24x30 cm print.
Vanah Yami. Paris, 1923.
24x30 cm print.
Ballerina. Paris, circa 1930.
24x30 cm print.
Tamara Toumanova. Paris, circa 1930.
24x30 cm print.
Olga Spessivtseva, circa 1930.
24x30 cm print.
Brigitte Bardot as a child, standing on the piano at Madame Bourgat’s dance class. Paris, Salle Pleyel, circa 1946.
40x40 cm print.
Brigitte Bardot as a child, attending Madame Bourgat’s dance class. Paris, Salle Pleyel, circa 1946.
40x40 cm print.
“Les Mirages” (The Mirages), Choreography by Serge Lifar. Micheline Bardin. Opéra de Paris, December 1947.
40x40 cm print.
“Les Songes” (Dreams). Choreography by George Balanchine, performed by the Ballets 33. Libretto, stage design and costumes by André Derain. Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, May 1933.
40x40 cm print.
Olga Adabache in “Sleeping Beauty” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Paris, October 1960.
24x30 cm print.
“Le Bal” (The Ball). Choreography by George Balanchine. Stage design and costumes by Giorgio De Chirico. Performed by Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Anton Dolin, Felia Doubrovska and Serge Lifar. Paris, 1929.
24x30 cm print.
Tamara Toumanova. Paris, circa 1930.
24x30 cm print.
“Apollon Musagète” (Apollo) by Igor Stravinsky. Choreography by George Balanchine. Ballets Russes, Diaghilev’s ballet company. Serge Lifar. 1928.
24x30 cm print.
“David triomphant” (David Triumphing). Serge Lifar. Paris, Théâtre de la Cité universitaire internationale, December 1936.
50x50 cm print.
Nyota Inyoka. Paris, circa 1930.
40x40 cm print.
“Napoléon”, film by Abel Gance. Albert Dieudonné. France, 1927.
24x30 cm print.
Scene from “Napoléon”, film by Abel Gance. On the left: Antonin Artaud, 1927.
24x30 cm print.
Nelly Kaplan and Abel Gance. November 1956.
30x30 cm print.
Édith Piaf. France, 1936.
50x50 cm print.
Buster Keaton. Médrano circus, Paris, September 1947.
30x30 cm print.
Yves Montand. Paris, June 1946.
24x30 cm print.
Danielle Darrieux. Paris, March 1935.
50x50 cm print.
Joséphine Baker at the Folies-Bergère. Paris, 1936.
30x30 cm print.
Louis Jouvet. Paris, 1934.
30x30 cm print.
Louis Jouvet performing Molière’s “Don Juan” at the Théâtre de l’Athénée. Paris, December 1947.
30x30 cm print.
Feminine Automobile Elegance Contest organized by “Femina” and “L’Intransigeant”. First Grand Prix d’Honneur for Miss Claude May, dressed by Rosevienne, driving a Chrysler in the foreign car category. Paris, Trocadéro, June 1938.
55x60 cm print.
Aeroclub. France, circa 1935-1937.
40x40 cm print.
Cristóbal Balenciaga. Paris, 1927.
40x50 cm print.
Beachwear by Elsa Schiaparelli. February 1934.
30x30 cm print.
Hat by Eric. Paris, January 1938.
30x30 cm print.
Hat by Esther Meyer. Paris, January 1937
30x30 cm print.
Topstitched cotton hat by Goupy, with a grosgrain. Paris, February 1935.
30x30 cm print.
Rose Valois straw sun hat with a grosgrain. Paris, January 1937.
30x30 cm print.
Helena Rubinstein in her laboratory. Saint-Cloud, 1930’s.
40x40 cm print.
The writer Colette in her beauty salon, rue de Miromesnil. Paris, 1932.
40x40 cm print.
Paul Poiret among his employees, celebrating Saint Catherine’s Day, with Josephine Baker. Paris, November 25, 1925.
23x40 cm print.
Coat by Paul Poiret on a skeleton costume. Paris, 1922.
21x30 cm print.
One of Paul Poiret’s employees costumed on the occasion of Saint Catherine’s Day. Paris, 1925.
21x30 cm print.
Josephine Baker with Paul Poiret celebrating Saint Catherine’s Day. Paris, November 25, 1925.
40x60 cm print.
Saint Catherine’s Day at Paul Poiret’s. Bibendum costume. Paris, November 1928.
21x30 cm print.
Dress by Paul Poiret. Paris, 1925.
30x40 cm print.
Celebration of Mid-Lenten at Paul Poiret’s. His son, Colin Poiret. Paris, March 1927.
21x30 cm print.
Coat by Paul Poiret. Paris, 1925
30x40 cm print.
Evening dress by Chanel. Chanel’s studio, rue Cambon. Paris, November 1936.
40x60 cm print.
Coco Chanel. Paris, 1936
30x40 cm print.
Coco Chanel attending a ball hosted by the Count de Beaumont. France, circa 1935.
40x40 cm print.
Coco Chanel. Paris, July 1936.
40x40 cm print.
Coco Chanel in her studio. Paris, rue Cambon, 1937.
40x40 cm print.
Aerodynamic steam locomotive of the Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée railroad company (PLM). Bruyère clothing. Paris, Gare de Lyon train station, 1937.
50x60 cm print.
Women’s fashion in a Paris-London plane. Colette Goupy outfit. March 1934.
50x50 cm print.
“La Fête de l’Eau” (Water Festival) at the Molitor swimming pool. Presentation of beachwears. Paris, July 1946.
30x30 cm print.
Rhönrad (gymnastics wheel). Deauville, August 1936
30x30 cm print.
Nap time on the beach. Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco, 1934.
30x30 cm print.
Beach scene. Saint-Jean-de-Luz (France), circa 1930.
53x80 cm print.
Young women at the pool. Swimsuits by Jacques Heim. May 1937.
50x50 cm print.
The Lipnitzki studio: 40 rue du Colisée (1936-1939)
In 1936, Boris Lipnitzki opened a studio near the Champs-Elysées. In less than twenty years, the immigrant had become quite notorious, portraying those who marked the century as well as temporary idols. Fashion remained a key business sector for the company. Boris has been widening his circle but remained faithful to theater.
In September 1940, the studio ceased all activity. A provisional administrator was appointed to manage this “Jewish business“, according to Vichy's anti-Semitic laws. In May 1941, thanks to the American journalist Varian Fry, Boris embarked in Marseille for Martinique, but finally arrived in Cuba where he stayed for two years before getting a visa for the United States. He settled in New York in 1943, welcomed by Chagall. In 1945, he returned to Paris, claimed his property back and from then on worked almost on his own. At the age of 68, on July 8, 1965, he closed the studio. Boris Lipnitzki died in Paris in 1971.
In 1970, the Roger-Viollet agency acquired the collections from Boris Lipnitzki and his studio, counting over a million negatives and prints.
These photographs are preserved by the Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris and exclusively distributed by Roger-Viollet Gallery.
Françoise Denoyelle
Historian of photography