ALGIERS A CITY IN TRANSITION — 1900

[Leroux, Alexandre - Photographer]

Twenty-Four Photographs of Algiers c.1900 from the Studio of Renowned Photographer Alexandre Leroux. [Studio-Issue Group]

A coherent group of twenty-four original studio photographs documenting the architectural and social fabric of Algiers at the turn of the twentieth century.

Produced by the photographer Alexandre Leroux, active in Algiers, the present group reflects the output of a permanent studio practice rather than that of a transient travel photographer. The images move between panoramic harbor views, formal architectural studies, and closely observed street and figural scenes, forming a balanced visual record of the city during a period of sustained urban and colonial development.

The sequence captures both the spatial structure of Algiers—its port, arcaded commercial districts, and monumental civic buildings—and the narrower passages and interior spaces associated with the older city. Figures appear throughout, integrated within streets, markets, and domestic settings, reinforcing the documentary character of the group.

DETAILS:
+++ Photographer: Alexandre Leroux (active Algiers)
+++ Date: c.1900
+++ Format: Group of 24 original photographs
+++ Medium: Gelatin silver, collotype, or albumen prints
+++ Dimensions: Approx. 22.5 x 30 cm (8.75 x 11.75 inches)
+++ Imprint: Many prints with ‘Leroux, Alger’ and plate numbers in the negative
+++ Housing: Individually sleeved in modern archival enclosures

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS:
+++ Panoramic views of the harbor and port infrastructure
+++ Arcaded boulevards and commercial waterfront districts
+++ Architectural studies including mosques and civic buildings
+++ Street scenes within the Casbah and surrounding quarters
+++ Figural studies of musicians, vendors, and daily activity
+++ Interior scenes reflecting domestic and social environments

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Large-format photographs on period paper, with a range of tonal qualities consistent with mixed processes. Several prints retain strong contrast and clarity, particularly within the architectural views.

CONDITION: Good to Very Good. General age-appropriate handling wear including light edge rubbing and occasional creasing. Two prints with corner loss; image areas largely unaffected. A sound and usable group.

HISTORICAL & SCHOLARLY CONTEXT —
+++ The Photographer: French photographer Alexandre Leroux, active in Algiers whose career was defined by his rigorous documentation of the Maghreb. Unlike casual travel photographers of the era, Leroux maintained a permanent studio in Algiers, allowing him to capture the city’s seasonal light and social rhythms with superior technical precision.
+++ Cultural Documentation: The archive contains Algerian landmarks: the Place du Gouvernement, the Cathedral of St. Philippe, and the intricate, shadowed alleyways of the Casbah.
+++ Social Narrative: Beyond the masonry, Leroux documents the human element of the 1900s—capturing 'The Theater of the Street' through portraits of indigenous musicians and daily market labor that were often inaccessible to Western observers.

SUBJECTS: Algiers History, North African Photography, Alexandre Leroux, French Colonial Urbanism, The Casbah, Maghreb Studies, Orientalist Photography, Late-Victorian Documentary, Mediterranean Harbor History, Original Photography, Studio-Issue Archive, Portfolio.

Item #21841

Price: $1,400.00