Gaspard-Felix Tournachon alias Nadar was one of the first portrait photographers. His path began in Lyon, France, where he left his medical studies to become a journalist. In 1839 he moved back to his birthplace Paris. At first he could not make a good career decision. He tried his hand at drawing, theater and also in industry until he created the satirical magazine "La Revue Comique" in 1849, in which he opposed the Paris Commune with different artists by means of illustrations. One of the artists was his half-brother Adrien alias Nadar jeune, who had previously been trained as a painter Picot through Nadar's connections.
At the age of 34 he married Ernestine who was 16 years younger. In the same year he devoted himself to photography. His attention was focused on the psychological recording of his models. "In order to produce an intimate image and not just a banal portrait, the result of sheer coincidence, you have to put yourself in the model's shoes, you have to capture her thoughts and even her character," Nadar describes to explain his working method. To do this, Nadar sometimes talked for hours until the model took on a more relaxed posture. At the time, this was not particularly easy, as the model had to remain in front of the lens for a few seconds. For this purpose, he also used accessories that helped the model to rest but were invisible in the picture. His clientele consisted mainly of prominent writers, some of whom he was friends with.
At the battle of Solferino Nadar took the first aerial photographs. For this he constructed a propeller airship, which inspired Jules Verne to write his novel "Five Weeks in a Balloon". Four years later, Nadar and his wife travelled in the airship from Paris to Hanover, but it crashed, so that both he and his wife had to go to hospital with serious injuries. Nevertheless he loved aviation so much that in the same year he became president of the newly founded "Société d'encouragement de la navigation aérienne au moyen du plus lourd que l'air", which promoted the construction of flying machines. He finally achieved fame through his long exposures in the Paris catacombs.
His only son Paul followed in his father's footsteps and took over the studio after his death.
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.jpg "Gustave Courbet by Nadar")
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 in costume c1860 - (MeisterDrucke-95934).jpg "Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) in costume, c. 1860 by Nadar")
 in costume c1860 - (MeisterDrucke-95934).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Claude Monet, 1901 by Nadar")
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.jpg "Henri Becquerel, French physicist by Nadar")
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.jpg "Standing Female Nude, 1860-61 by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_The_brothers_Edmond_de_Goncourt_(1822-1896)_and_Jules_de_Goncourt_(1830-1870)_li_-_(MeisterDrucke-932674).jpg "The brothers Edmond de Goncourt (1822-1896) and Jules de Goncourt (1830-1870), literary critics and French writers, photo by Gaspard Félix Tournachon, known as Félix Nadar (1820-1910), circa 1855 by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_The_brothers_Edmond_de_Goncourt_(1822-1896)_and_Jules_de_Goncourt_(1830-1870)_li_-_(MeisterDrucke-932674).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Portrait_de_Michel_Bakounine_(Bakunin)_(1814-1876)_anarchiste_russe_Portrait_of_-_(MeisterDrucke-962287).jpg "Portrait of Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin (1814-1876), Russian anarchist, by Nadar, Gaspard-Félix (1820-1910), c. 1860. Albumen photograph. Private Collection by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_de_Michel_Bakounine_(Bakunin)_(1814-1876)_anarchiste_russe_Portrait_of_-_(MeisterDrucke-962287).jpg)
 from Galerie Contemporaine c187 - (MeisterDrucke-221637).jpg "Edmond de Goncourt (1822-96) from")
 from Galerie Contemporaine c187 - (MeisterDrucke-221637).jpg)
 in the role of Junie in Britannicus by Jean Racine (1639-99) c1860 - (MeisterDrucke-58838).jpg "Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) in the role of Junie in")
 in the role of Junie in Britannicus by Jean Racine (1639-99) c1860 - (MeisterDrucke-58838).jpg)
 as Pierrot c1850-60 - (MeisterDrucke-75296).jpg "Portrait of Jean Charles Deburau (1829-73) as Pierrot, c. 1850-60 by Nadar")
 as Pierrot c1850-60 - (MeisterDrucke-75296).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Mr_Sax_is_wounded_by_the_black_doctor_(Adolphe_(Adolph)_Sax_inventor_of_the_Saxo_-_(MeisterDrucke-917161).jpg "Mr. Sax is wounded by the Black doctor. Adolphe (Adolph) Sax, inventor of the saxophone (1814-1894) by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Mr_Sax_is_wounded_by_the_black_doctor_(Adolphe_(Adolph)_Sax_inventor_of_the_Saxo_-_(MeisterDrucke-917161).jpg)
_-_French_composer_Jacques_Offenbach_(1819-1880)_c_1876_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077049).jpg "French composer Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), c. 1876 by Nadar")
_-_French_composer_Jacques_Offenbach_(1819-1880)_c_1876_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077049).jpg)
_-_Isidore_Severin_French_officer_of_English_origins_art_collector_(he_contributed_-_(MeisterDrucke-1073054).jpg "Isidore Séverin, French officer of English origins, art collector - he contributed to the transfer of the Luxor Obelisk to Paris - and supporter of Nadar, c. 1858 by Nadar")
_-_Isidore_Severin_French_officer_of_English_origins_art_collector_(he_contributed_-_(MeisterDrucke-1073054).jpg)
_(after)_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_the_Woman_of_Letters_George_Sand_(1804-1876)_Aurore_Dupin_Baroness_D_-_(MeisterDrucke-981981).jpg "Portrait of the Woman of Letters George Sand (1804-1876) Aurore Dupin, Baroness Dudevant Drawing by Rene Jouhan (1835-?) from a photograph of Nadar by Nadar")
_(after)_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_the_Woman_of_Letters_George_Sand_(1804-1876)_Aurore_Dupin_Baroness_D_-_(MeisterDrucke-981981).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Édouard Manet, 1874 by Nadar")
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.jpg "Portrait of Ernestine Nadar, the artist")
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.jpg "Seated Model, Partially Draped by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Honore_Balzac_(1799_-_1850)_French_writer_-_(MeisterDrucke-984513).jpg "Portrait of Honore Balzac, French Writer by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Honore_Balzac_(1799_-_1850)_French_writer_-_(MeisterDrucke-984513).jpg)
 in the role of Marion Delorme at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin illustration for the cover of the journal Paris Artiste no 71 engraved by Michelet (mixed media) - (MeisterDrucke-96990).jpg "Sarah Bernhardt in the Role of Marion Delorme at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin, Illustration for the Cover of the Journal")
 in the role of Marion Delorme at the Theatre de la Porte Saint-Martin illustration for the cover of the journal Paris Artiste no 71 engraved by Michelet (mixed media) - (MeisterDrucke-96990).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Jacques_Fromental_Halevy_(1799-1862)_english_composer_Photograph_Nad_-_(MeisterDrucke-954532).jpg "Portrait of Jacques Fromental Halevy (1799-1862) English composer (photograph by Nadar (Felix Tournachon)) 19th century. Bologna, Museo Bibliografico Musicale by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Jacques_Fromental_Halevy_(1799-1862)_english_composer_Photograph_Nad_-_(MeisterDrucke-954532).jpg)
.jpg "Nadar Pantheon, 1854, Paris by Nadar")
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.jpg "Nadar with His Wife, Ernestine, in a Balloon by Nadar")
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.jpg "Gioacchino Rossini by Nadar")
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.jpg "Mikhail Bakunin, Russian revolutionary and theorist of anarchism by Nadar")
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_22nd_May_1885_engraved_by_Adrien_Marie_-_(MeisterDrucke-39738).jpg "The Last Moments of Victor Hugo (1802-85) 22nd May 1885 (engraved by Adrien Marie) by Nadar")
_22nd_May_1885_engraved_by_Adrien_Marie_-_(MeisterDrucke-39738).jpg)
_(after)_Nadar_-_Victor_Hugo_on_Deathbed_May_22_-_(MeisterDrucke-991164).jpg "Victor Hugo on Deathbed, May 22 by Nadar")
_(after)_Nadar_-_Victor_Hugo_on_Deathbed_May_22_-_(MeisterDrucke-991164).jpg)
.jpg "Self-Portrait by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_Cartoon_on_the_work_of_Hector_Berlioz_(1803-1869)_designed_by_Nadar_in_1856_for_-_(MeisterDrucke-932476).jpg "Cartoon on the work of Hector Berlioz designed by Nadar in 1856 for the Journal pour rire by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Cartoon_on_the_work_of_Hector_Berlioz_(1803-1869)_designed_by_Nadar_in_1856_for_-_(MeisterDrucke-932476).jpg)
.jpg "Alexander Dumas by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_Eugene_Viollet-Le-Duc_(1814-1879)_French_architect_who_restored_a_lots_of_monume_-_(MeisterDrucke-920403).jpg "Eugene Viollet-Le-Duc, French architect who restored many monuments, photo by Nadar in 1878 by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Eugene_Viollet-Le-Duc_(1814-1879)_French_architect_who_restored_a_lots_of_monume_-_(MeisterDrucke-920403).jpg)
_Nadar_-_French_composer_Claude_Debussy_(1862-1918)_-_Portrait_of_the_french_composer_Cla_-_(MeisterDrucke-915269).jpg "French composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - Portrait of the french composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) 1908 - photo Nadar - digital coloring by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_French_composer_Claude_Debussy_(1862-1918)_-_Portrait_of_the_french_composer_Cla_-_(MeisterDrucke-915269).jpg)
_-_Portrait_of_Joseph_Lemercier_printer-lithographer_1803-_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1040750).jpg "Portrait of Joseph Lemercier, printer-lithographer by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Joseph_Lemercier_printer-lithographer_1803-_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1040750).jpg)
.jpg "Sarah Bernhardt as")
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.jpg "F. de Lesseps, c. 1876 by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_the_Painter_Honor_Daumier_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-938544).jpg "Portrait of the Painter Honoré Daumier (b/w photo) by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_the_Painter_Honor_Daumier_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-938544).jpg)
.jpg "George Sand by Nadar")
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_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Charles_Baudelaire_Writer_(1821-1867)_-_Photography_by_Nadar_(Felix_-_(MeisterDrucke-930631).jpg "Portrait of Charles Baudelaire, Writer (1821-1867) by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Charles_Baudelaire_Writer_(1821-1867)_-_Photography_by_Nadar_(Felix_-_(MeisterDrucke-930631).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Eugène Trutat by Nadar")
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.jpg "Interior of Le Géant Inflating by Nadar")
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.jpg "Élie-Louis, duc Decazes French Statesman and Diplomat by Nadar")
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.jpg "Portrait of Alfred Jarry, 1896 by Nadar")
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.jpg "Isaac Pereire by Nadar")
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_-_Portrait_of_Gioachino_Rossini_composer_1792-1868_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041350).jpg "Portrait of Gioachino Rossini, composer by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Gioachino_Rossini_composer_1792-1868_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041350).jpg)
 2nd half 19th century - (MeisterDrucke-63474).jpg "Portrait of Gerard de Nerval by Nadar")
 2nd half 19th century - (MeisterDrucke-63474).jpg)
.jpg "Sarah Bernhardt, French Actress by Nadar")
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.jpg "Self-Portrait by Nadar")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1308449).jpg "Alexandre Dumas père (1802-1870) by Nadar")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1308449).jpg)
.jpg "Maupassant by Nadar")
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 seated in a Louis XIII armchair - (MeisterDrucke-277569).jpg "Charles Baudelaire (1821-67) Seated in a Louis XIII Armchair, 1855 by Nadar")
 seated in a Louis XIII armchair - (MeisterDrucke-277569).jpg)
_-_Mime_Debureau_Pierrot_photo_by_Gaspard_Felix_Tournachon_aka_Nadar_and_Adrien_To_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078010).jpg "Mime Debureau: Pierrot, photo by Gaspard Felix Tournachon aka Nadar and Adrien Tournachon aka Nadar the Young by Nadar")
_-_Mime_Debureau_Pierrot_photo_by_Gaspard_Felix_Tournachon_aka_Nadar_and_Adrien_To_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078010).jpg)
_-_Portrait_of_French_novelist_Victor_Hugo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078584).jpg "Portrait of French Novelist Victor Hugo by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_French_novelist_Victor_Hugo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078584).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Mime_Charles_Deburau_(1829-1873)_in_Pierrot_at_the_pot_of_medicine_-_(MeisterDrucke-951284).jpg "Mime: Charles Deburau in")
_Nadar_-_Mime_Charles_Deburau_(1829-1873)_in_Pierrot_at_the_pot_of_medicine_-_(MeisterDrucke-951284).jpg)
_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078589).jpg "The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078589).jpg)
.jpg "Self-Portrait by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "Jules Janin by Nadar")
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_-_Portrait_of_Claude_Debussy_(Saint-Germain-en-Laye_-_(MeisterDrucke-1091355).jpg "Portrait of Claude Debussy by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Claude_Debussy_(Saint-Germain-en-Laye_-_(MeisterDrucke-1091355).jpg)
.jpg "Mme. Pape-Carpantier from")
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 in the role of Joan of Arc in Le Proces de Jeanne dArc by Emile Moreau 1909 - (MeisterDrucke-171691).jpg "Sarah Bernhardt in the role of Joan of Arc in")
 in the role of Joan of Arc in Le Proces de Jeanne dArc by Emile Moreau 1909 - (MeisterDrucke-171691).jpg)
_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077431).jpg "The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077431).jpg)
_-_Cover_of_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077729).jpg "Cover of The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_Cover_of_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077729).jpg)
_Nadar_-_When_is_Giacomo_Meyerbeer_African_-_(MeisterDrucke-917162).jpg "When is Giacomo Meyerbeer African? by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_When_is_Giacomo_Meyerbeer_African_-_(MeisterDrucke-917162).jpg)
_-_Portrait_of_French_writer_Prosper_Merimee_(1803-1870)_drawing_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078011).jpg "Portrait of French writer Prosper Merimee, drawing by Nadar by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_French_writer_Prosper_Merimee_(1803-1870)_drawing_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078011).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-644263).jpg "Pierrot in Pain, 1854 by Nadar")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-644263).jpg)
.jpg "Ernest Legouvé by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "Auguste Maquet by Nadar by Nadar")
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.jpg "Jules Massenet, French composer best known for his operas by Nadar")
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_-_Charles-Auguste_de_Briot_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1093104).jpg "Charles-Auguste de Bériot by Nadar")
_-_Charles-Auguste_de_Briot_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1093104).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Isaac Pereire by Nadar")
.jpg)
_-_Portrait_of_Edouard_Manet_painter_1832-1883_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1035886).jpg "Portrait of Edouard Manet, painter 1832-1883 (photo) by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Edouard_Manet_painter_1832-1883_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1035886).jpg)
_-_Portrait_of_Claude_Debussy_(Saint-Germain-en-Laye_-_(MeisterDrucke-1093110).jpg "Portrait of Claude Debussy by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Claude_Debussy_(Saint-Germain-en-Laye_-_(MeisterDrucke-1093110).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Juliette Adam by Nadar")
.jpg)
_Nadar_-_Jean_Francois_Millet_(1814-1875)_French_painter_c_1870_photo_by_Nadar_-_Digital_-_(MeisterDrucke-923797).jpg "Jean Francois Millet (1814-1875) French painter c. 1870 photo by Nadar - Digital colouring - Portrait of Jean-Francois Millet, painter, engraver. Photograph by Nadar. 19th century by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Jean_Francois_Millet_(1814-1875)_French_painter_c_1870_photo_by_Nadar_-_Digital_-_(MeisterDrucke-923797).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-153162).jpg "Ernestine Constance Lefebvre by Nadar")
 - (MeisterDrucke-153162).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Arthur Kalkbrenner by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "Eugène Scribe by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "The Giant, Champ de Mars by Nadar")
.jpg)
_Nadar_-_Self_portrait_c1855_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-920335).jpg "Self portrait, c.1855 by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Self_portrait_c1855_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-920335).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-138830).jpg "Auguste Vacquerie by Nadar")
 - (MeisterDrucke-138830).jpg)
.jpg "Album Containing Photographs, Engravings, Drawings, and Publications Pertaining, November 1855 by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "Famous Photograph of the Shah of Iran by Nadar")
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.jpg "Thiers by Nadar")
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_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078588).jpg "The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078588).jpg)
.jpg "Lord Randolph Churchill by Nadar")
.jpg)
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Mikhail_Aleksandrovich_Bakunin_c1860_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-938472).jpg "Portrait of Mikhail Aleksandrovich Bakunin (c.1860) by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Mikhail_Aleksandrovich_Bakunin_c1860_(bw_photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-938472).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Henriette_Rosine_Bernard_dite_Sarah_Bernhardt_(1844-1923)_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-933620).jpg "Portrait of Henriette Rosine Bernard dit Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) by Nadar by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Henriette_Rosine_Bernard_dite_Sarah_Bernhardt_(1844-1923)_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-933620).jpg)
.jpg "Sarah Bernhardt as Isolde by Nadar")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-34923).jpg "Portrait of Monsieur de Tourguenef by Nadar")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-34923).jpg)
_-_The_catacombs_of_Paris_View_of_an_architectural_sculpture_of_Port_Saint_Philippe_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041344).jpg "The catacombs of Paris. View of an architectural sculpture of Port Saint Philippe by Nadar")
_-_The_catacombs_of_Paris_View_of_an_architectural_sculpture_of_Port_Saint_Philippe_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041344).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-277202).jpg "Bertall by Nadar")
 - (MeisterDrucke-277202).jpg)
_-_Cover_of_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078606).jpg "Cover of The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_Cover_of_The_Fun_Journal_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078606).jpg)
_-_Victor_Hugo_on_his_deathbed_May_22_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041189).jpg "Victor Hugo on his deathbed, May 22 by Nadar")
_-_Victor_Hugo_on_his_deathbed_May_22_-_(MeisterDrucke-1041189).jpg)
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Sarah_Bernhardt_in_1864_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-967506).jpg "Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt in 1864 by Nadar by Nadar")
_Nadar_-_Portrait_of_Sarah_Bernhardt_in_1864_by_Nadar_-_(MeisterDrucke-967506).jpg)
_-_Pierre_Joseph_Proudhon_(1809-1865)_trade_union_French_socialist_and_political_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078884).jpg "Pierre Joseph Proudhon, photo by Nadar, 1865 by Nadar")
_-_Pierre_Joseph_Proudhon_(1809-1865)_trade_union_French_socialist_and_political_th_-_(MeisterDrucke-1078884).jpg)
.jpg "Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt by Nadar")
.jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-215382).jpg "Guiseppe Verdi by Nadar")
 - (MeisterDrucke-215382).jpg)
_-_Le_Journal_Fun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077428).jpg "The Fun Journal by Nadar")
_-_Le_Journal_Fun_-_(MeisterDrucke-1077428).jpg)
.jpg "Self-Portrait in Costume by Nadar")
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.jpg "Gondinet by Nadar")
.jpg)
.jpg "Jules Massenet, French composer by Nadar")
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_-_Portrait_of_Carlotta_Grisi_dancer_1819-1899_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1042002).jpg "Portrait of Carlotta Grisi, dancer by Nadar")
_-_Portrait_of_Carlotta_Grisi_dancer_1819-1899_(photo)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1042002).jpg)
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