POSTAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM AN EXCEPTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Set of four postcards; three of them printed and a photo postcard (number C). Measures. A: 14 x 9 cm / 5.51 x 3.54 in. B: 14.2 x 9.2 cm / 5.59 x 3.62 in. C: 13.7 x 8.7 cm / 5.39 x 3.42 in. D: 14 ​​x 9 cm / 5.51 x 3.54 in.

Photohistorian Luis Priamo (1) tells that this exceptional Swiss photographer (1875-1942) settled in the Mendoza town of San Rafael at the beginning of the 20th century, becoming the first professional working in the south of that province.

Sent by his father on a trade mission, he arrived in Buenos Aires around 1896 and the South American country trapped him forever; He worked in different trades in Buenos Aires and Rosario, among them that of photographer, a noble profession that from then on would become his main means of life, and also of artistic expression.

In Buenos Aires he married Florentina Widermann -of Austrian descent- and, knowing about the existence of an active French community in San Rafael, he decided to settle in this agricultural colony located almost a thousand kilometers from the capital. After various setbacks in this profession - which put his mettle and determination to the test - Jean Pi finally established himself as the great photographer of those hard-working settlers whom he masterfully portrayed and, at the same time, captured the most beautiful landscapes of that land. mountain range.

The first advertisement of "Modern Photography" by Juan Pi y Cía. It appeared in the newspaper "Ecos de San Rafael" on March 18, 1903; For this reason, this family collection of four photographic postcards dated around 1904/5, become an unpublished and very early documentation on one of the great photographers working in the interior of our country.

The first of these photographic postcards is signed by Juan Pi himself and dated May 30, 1904, it shows us three of his friends - all identified - on an excursion with dogs and even a feline; the postcard is addressed to Monsieur Baldomero Pi from the town of Vallard in Haute Savoie (France).

The second, of photomechanical printing in green, from the collection: "La Nación. B. Aires" under number 23; It indicates in its upper left border: "Valle del Malleco - Cordillera de los Andes". Above the image is the message written in French: "! Bonne Année Marie!" (Good year Maria) and he signs it "Jean Pi".

The third is a rural landscape and shows us an extensive bridge with some people posing on it, on the back he wrote in French. According to our translation: "Mom. Mom. In the middle of the bridge over the Diamond in San Rafael. Write my name Juanito and my employee." We must point out that Juan Pi was the first-born son - known by the nickname "Juanito" - who was born in San Rafael around 1905 and continued his father's profession.

The fourth and final postcard is addressed to "Monsieur Alphonse Vernay. Le Chable. Haute Savoie". Printed vertically on its right side is the signature advertising: "Photo Juan Pi" and on the lower right edge the corresponding epigraph: "San Rafael - Río Diamante". Below and written in French on the image: "It looks like the Arve. I will accompany you fishing. And we are in good health. Many kisses and wishes. Juan Pi. May 28, 1904". The Arve is a river that runs between France and Switzerland, near Geneva. Juan Pi achieves a very beautiful image here, where his carriage is reflected and duplicated in the water mirror.

The four postcards belong to the first stage of Juan Pi in the town of San Rafael; all are of the family type and denote the nostalgia of that Swiss immigrant for his relatives and friends in Europe. However, that landscape captivated him forever; Pi settled in that beautiful land of Mendoza and there he formed his Argentine family. More than a century away, his photographic works deserve the highest praise from specialists.

By Abel Alexander

President of the Ibero-American Society for the History of Photography

Notes:

1. Luis Priamo: "Juan Pi - Photographs - 1903/1933". Buenos Aires. Antorchas Foundation. 1994.

We thank Luis Priamo and Carlos Brega.