The Photography of Charles Karsenty, Sidi Bel Abbes

Introduction

In 2012, I acquired a remarkable photograph of a légionnaire from the 1er Régiment Étranger, taken in Sidi Bel Abbès at the renowned studio of Charles Karsenty. Research revealed that this photograph was created prior to 1900, as Karsenty was active in Sidi Bel Abbès between 1880 and 1900.

The address of Karsenty’s studio, elegantly printed on the back of the photograph, was 15, rue Chabrière, Sidi Bel Abbès. Karsenty’s artistic achievements earned him numerous accolades, including:

Médailles at the Exposition des Sciences, Paris (1882),

Recognition at the Exposition Industrielle, Marseille (1886),

Bronze medal, Le Havre (1887),

Silver medal, Paris (1889).

Other documented studio locations include 21, rue Chabrière and 22, rue Mogador, with his headquarters in Oran [1]

Expanding the Collection

A decade later, in 2022, I was fortunate to add another photograph to my collection. This striking portrait depicts a highly decorated officer of the French Foreign Legion, captured at the 21, rue Chabrière studio. Efforts are ongoing to uncover the identity of this distinguished officer.

In 2025, a third photograph joined the collection, further enriching this historical narrative. The studio address on the reverse of the latest addition was again 21, rue Chabrière, and its design closely mirrored that of the officer’s photograph.
Intriguingly, the studio decorations in the portraits of both légionnaires are identical, reflecting consistency in Karsenty’s artistic approach.

Insights from Historical Advertisements

Research in old newspapers, accessed via Gallica, revealed intriguing advertisements for Karsenty’s studio:

Le Bel-Abbésien (26 January 1889): This announcement indicated that Charles Karsenty had established his studio in Maison Bizens, rue des Bains Français.