Composing ‘the artistic projection of the future’: the religious life model slide sets of Maison de la Bonne Presse

Abstract

ABSTRACT With its sequences of projected images, accompanied by narration and often by music, the optical lantern as a communication medium proved to be effective for Christian evangelism, especially through life model slides. The religious life model slide sets or ‘scenes d’après nature’, produced by the Catholic publisher Maison de la Bonne Presse from 1908, hold a particular place in the cultural and media history of France and other Francophone countries. Through these slides, the staff of the projection service at Maison de la Bonne Presse sought to unite religiosity and artistry, truth and beauty. Based on primary sources and materials such as paintings, photographs and collages, not used in any previous study, I examine the different phases of the distinctive production process of the majority of these artistic life model slides, so as to more fully interpret their aesthetic and expressive qualities. Building on a media archaeological approach, I demonstrate how pictorial, photographic, and theatrical techniques were combined to create realistic visual representations of Christian stories for religious propaganda. Not only were these life model slide sets exceptional in their manner of production, combining contemporary techniques of photomontage with traditional Christian iconography, but their material history provides a remarkable illustration of the versatility and the richness of the optical lantern medium.