This is surely one of the most evocative photographs I have ever seen. In fact, to me this photograph symbolizes the essence of a pre-war car. Made by French photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue in 1913, at a time when the word photoshop had not been invented. Early photographs were really “stills” without any sense of movement. Jacques-Henri Lartigue (1894-1986) was one of the first photographers who knew to create a distortion in his photos, thus suggesting movement, if not real speed. The original title of this photo is “Car Trip, Papa at 80 kilometers an hour”. It has long been thought that the car was a Delage and that the photo had been taken on June 26, 1912 during the Grand Prix de l’ACF, held at the Circuit de Dieppe. However, research has proved that no Delage with that starting number participated in that particular Grand Prix and that it is in fact a Theophilé Schneider, photographed in 1913 during the Grand Prix at Picardie (see sources). This amazing silver print, signed by Lartigue in ink, was auctioned at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam. Its estimate was 4000-6000 euros but the hammer fell at a staggering 7800 euros. Maybe it’s a good thing I wasn’t able to attend. Who knows what could have happened to my wallet.

(Photo courtesy Sotheby’s).

Sources:
Kevin Moore: Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Invention of an artist, published 2004, page 91 and note 70 on page 235
David E. Junker: Jacques-Henri Lartigue, a Correction, published 1995, page 179-180
T.A.S.O. Mathieson: Grand Prix Racing 1906-1904, published 1965
Racing Database lists René Croquet with starting number 6. He finished tenth

March 15, 2007