You never know what'll turn up…

To tickle your fancy!

Someone had been keeping these in a drawer or a cupboard for a very long time. You could tell from the smell. Oh, it was delicious, old paper, offset printing presses, l’armoire de ma grand-mère (granny’s wardrobe) and who knows? I’m talking about the treasures unearthed the other day at a “vide maison” (that’s a yard sale in the US but the literal translation is something like “empty house”).

More specifically, publications from 1896 onwards…”The Laugh” and “The Smile” - French humoristic magazines from over 120 years ago plus some fascinating bills (yes, bills can be interesting)!

Just look at this 👇

“- Well, my dear master, what do you think of this exhibition? Isn't the number of paintings prodigious?
- A miracle, dear lady, a miracle... the multiplication of daubs”

Of course the pièce de résistance for me as an artist is the array of illustrations within the journals and those on the electricity bills (shown further down).

My intention when I saw them was for future use in mixed media creations but im not sure if I’ll be able to bring myself to cut them up but I’ll let you know if I do. Would that be sacrilege? I’d love to know what you think so please take this poll if you dont mind. If you have any other answers, let me know in the comments.

Maids and electricity.

Notice the illustrations here on the Parisian Electricity Distribution Company’s bills from 1935, advertising electrical brooms and toasters etc, whatever next, forsooth? And the stamp on the front invoice shows a lowering of price -
“BAISSE , nouveau prix” … well, that would never happen nowadays would it?

Voila, dear readers. Thank you for visiting this edition of In the Loop. I’m still new at this Substack thing and remain in awe of all you delightfully talented writers, so all comments welcome. I’d appreciate your feedback.

If this has tickled your proverbial fancy and you’re new to In the Loop, then head over to my Stack and catch up on my posts such as “Mark my Words”