Jacques Offenbach by Reutlinger, 1871

Charles Reutlinger was a German photographer who was born on 28 August 1816 in Karlsruhe, Germany. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste Reutlinger, a lithographer and engraver. Charles first worked as an engraver in his father's workshop before experimenting with photography. In 1848, Charles opened his own photographic studio in Paris, France, specialising in portraiture. He quickly gained a reputation for his skill and became one of the most sought-after photographers in the city. His clients included many of the famous personalities of the time, such as Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas and Sarah Bernhardt. Charles was renowned for his use of the wet collodion process, which allowed him to produce high quality images with great detail and clarity. He also pioneered the use of artificial lighting in photography, enabling him to shoot indoors and at night. In addition to his portrait work, Charles also produced photographs of landscapes, architecture and art objects. He was particularly interested in capturing images of ancient sculptures and artefacts, which he believed to be important cultural treasures. Charles continued to work as a photographer until his death on 4 December 1888. His legacy lives on through his many photographs, which are still admired and studied today for their technical excellence and artistic merit.

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