This story begins at the flea market of Sancerre in France. Stereo photographer and collector Guy Laluque finds a collection of cardboard boxes containing 45 x 107 mm glass stereoviews with a Pliant de Poche stereoscope. After research by Laluque, it appears that the photos were taken by Paul Piotin. The photos in this post are from Laluque’s collection and published with his kind permission.
Paul Gustave Piotin was born on 14 april 1894 in Saint-Léger-les-Vignes, France1. Piotin became a glassmaker in Chalon-sur-Saône. He was an avid stereo photographer and with his Vérascope he took photos during various trips and public events. The collection contains images from his travels to Italy, Switzerland and Spain and he captured the Tour de France of 1910 and the airshow of Chalon in the same year.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Piotin was mobilised by the French army. He became a sergeant of the 56e Régiment d’Infanterie (56 RI). He captured his experiences and comrades with his camera. Tragically, Piotin died near Fort Souville during the Battle of Verdun on 5 August 19162.
References
- Paul Gustave Piotin. Via: memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr ↩︎
- Ibid ↩︎
Further read
- Battle of Verdun. Via: en.wikipedia.org