The Catherinettes Racecourse, Paris 1931 - Silver Gelatin B and W Photography

Details

Description

An original silver gelatin black and white photograph by Press Agency ROL, by photographer G. Devred, Paris 1931, The Catherinettes … Read more An original silver gelatin black and white photograph by Press Agency ROL, by photographer G. Devred, Paris 1931, The Catherinettes March.
The young girls are carrying a hatbox in which their special hats made for Saint Catherine's Day is. (for more information, read below).
Features:
Original silver gelatin print photograph unframed.
Press photograph.
Press agency: ROL Paris.
Photographer: G. Devred.
Title: The Catherinettes March, Paris 1931.
Provenance: Private collection.
Image Size: 4.49 in. high (11.4 cm) x 7.01 in. wide (17.8 cm) - Archivally matted in a 17 in. x 13 in. mat.
Copyright credit ink stamp and press release caption typed at the back.
Typed French comment reads: "Paris, 22 Novembre 1931, Marche des Catherinettes. Photographie prise au relais, Place de la Concorde". (Paris, November 22, 1931, The Catherinettes March. Photograph taken at the relay, Place de la Concorde).
The piece will be shipped in a mat (17 x 13 in.) that fits a standard-sized frame.

About:
"Catherinettes" was a traditional french label for twenty-five-year-old women who were not yet married on the feast of Saint Catherine (November 25th). They were given a special party that day and everyone wished them a quick end to their single status.
Since the Middle Ages, women were under the protection of Saint Catherine (while Saint Nicolas took care of the men). The women took part in the group's devotion to the saint and were responsible for making a beautiful headdress to "cover" the statue each year on November 25th. Thus, women who get married within the year leave the group, which is why "stylizing Saint Catherine" becomes synonymous with "always being single at 25 or later". Following the evolution of the status of women and marriage in society, this custom has gradually died out throughout France, except for the hat-making and sewing trades where single women, after twenty-five years old, attended a ball on Saint Catherine's Day styled with a hat made especially for the occasion; wearing such a hat was called "coiffer Sainte Catherine" (styling Saint Catherine).
Although the term has become a bit old-fashioned in France, it is still sometimes used to refer to single 25-year-old women.
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