Sur Baudelaire et Nadar

The catalogue of the Musée d'Orsay's Exhibition displays admirable reproductions by Nadar taken between 1854 and 1860, notably of Baudelaire and Nerval. However, one must ask if art historians have sufficient knowledge of literary history to comment upon these images. The life and works of Nerval are badly presented. The photographs of Baudelaire, dispersed throughout the album, do not permit one to comprehend the long friendship between the poet and the photographer. Were Baudelaire's pose and attitude imposed on Nadar by the poet to reinforce the self-created legend he wished to leave to posterity? (In French) (CP)
Pichois, Claude
Volume 1995 Spring-Summer; 23(3-4): 416-20