L'Illustration (1843–1944) was a French illustrated weekly newspaper published in Paris.[1] It was founded by Édouard Charton with the first issue published on 4 March 1843, it became the first illustrated newspaper in France then, after 1906, the first international illustrated magazine; distributed in 150 countries.[2]
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Front page of 1 October 1904 edition
(Coronation of Peter I of Serbia) | |
Founder(s) | Édouard Charton Adolphe Joanne |
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Editor-in-chief | Edmond Texier (after 1860) |
Founded | 4 March 1843 |
Language | French |
Ceased publication | 1944 |
Headquarters | Paris, Saint-Mandé, Bobigny |
Country | France |
Circulation | weekly |
ISSN | 0246-9251 |
Website | https://www.lillustration.com |
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In 1891, L'Illustration became the first French newspaper to publish a photograph. Many of these photographs came from syndicated photo-press agencies like Chusseau-Flaviens, but the publication also employed its own photographers such as Léon Gimpel and others. In 1907, L'Illustration was the first to publish a color photograph. It also published Gaston Leroux' novel Le mystère de la chambre jaune as a serial a year before its 1908 release. La Petite Illustration was the name of the supplement to L'Illustration that published fiction, plays, and other arts-related material.[2]
During the Second World War, while it was owned by the Baschet family, L'Illustration supported Marshal Philippe Pétain's Révolution nationale,[3] but turned down pro-German articles by French aristocrat and diplomat Jacques Bouly de Lesdain.[3] However, Lesdain later became its political editor.[4][5]
The magazine was shut down in 1944 following the Liberation of Paris.[6] Another version re-opened in 1945 under the name France-Illustration, but went bankrupt in 1957.