Paris By Night: Nocturnal 1930s photographs make city of love even more romantic

Roger Schall’s photographs go on display for the first time

Fontaine De La Concorde 1935 - Roger Schall (Courtesy Galerie ARGENTIC)

The rain-washed glamour of Paris circa 1935 has been captured by pioneering photojournalist Roger Schall whose work is set to go on display in September.

Riding on the wave of the 1930s Leica and Rolleiflex “revolution”, the photographer’s images – most of which have never been exhibited before – show famous monuments from the Tour Eiffel to Sacré-Cœur at night.

The romantic black and white images are redolent of Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris and you half expect Owen Wilson to pop up and engage a famous poet or artist in conversation.

There is even a rather shocking image of a rough sleeper with a prosthetic leg resting beside the Siene; and a snapshot of early neon signs in the red light district, as well as cars parked up outside the Moulin Rouge.

The photographs from the interwar period will go on display alongside a number of other works from the time also presenting a nocturnal vision of the French capital.

Tour Eiffel 1935 - Roger Schall (Courtesy Galerie ARGENTIC)

Paris By Night – Roger Schall is from 4 September to 11 October at Galerie Argentic, Paris, www.argentic.fr