Fetishism makes an exhibition of itself: The Paris gallery portraying upskirting as an art form

Little is known about the photographer, not even his name, but he was believed to be a minor civil servant , writes Rory Mulholland

A detail of one of the photographs taken by the unnamed civil servant (Christian Berst Gallery)

He was an unsung genius toiling in obscurity, dedicated to his art and his beloved mother, upon whose death he took his own life.  

Or was he a dirty old man who for years sneaked around Paris cafes, shops, and streets, secretly photographing women’s legs?

Whatever the truth, his oeuvre is now on display in a Paris art gallery and is making a tidy sum for the gallery owner.