“Paris Burlesque brings together sixty portraits of women who welcomed me into their homes in and around Paris, giving themselves over to the game of metamorphosis, just long enough take a picture”.

The New Burlesque is the result of a renewed interest in American music hall from the 1920s and 1930s, a blend of social satire, smut and strip-tease. The modern version, which combines feminism, glamor and a rejection of conventions, is surprising for its energy and artistic potential. Sandrine Elberg seeks truth in the private spaces of these French representatives of burlesque, especially in Paris, a city legendary for its cabarets.

This labor-intensive project required eight months of daily work. The subjects were found through encounters and mutual friends.

Sandrine Elberg selected women aged between 18- to 59-year old who regularly perform on French stages. The artist met with them in their homes, creating portraits of these muses.

Paris Burlesque - Sandrine Elberg
From November 9th to December 15th, 2012
In part of Le Mois de la Photo
Galerie BenJ
56, rue Saint Sébastien
75011 Paris - France