Studio Harcourt
Founded 1934
Studio Harcourt is a photography studio founded in Paris in 1934 by the brothers Lacroix. It is known in particular for its black and-white photographs of movie stars and celebrities. The studio is currently located at 6, rue de Lota in the 16th arrondisment of Paris. Harcourt Studio Photography is the result of the association of the brothers Lacroix and Germaine Hirschefeld (1900–1976) aka Cosette Harcourt, a photographer who had worked in the studio of the brothers Manuel. Initially, the company produced images for the press, at a time when prestigious photo studios like Nadar closed for lack of clients.
The change in direction came when Cosette Harcourt started to specialize in black-and-white glamour photography of figures from French cinema and culture, always using 24 x 30 cm prints immediately recognizable for their distinctive style and lighting. This typical Harcourt style consists in a photo taken at close distance to the subject in its best light, generally creating a halo of light and dark, on a gray-to-black background. The Harcourt logo is featured prominently on every print.
The change in direction came when Cosette Harcourt started to specialize in black-and-white glamour photography of figures from French cinema and culture, always using 24 x 30 cm prints immediately recognizable for their distinctive style and lighting. This typical Harcourt style consists in a photo taken at close distance to the subject in its best light, generally creating a halo of light and dark, on a gray-to-black background. The Harcourt logo is featured prominently on every print.