Born in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) in 1908, René Giton was 16 years old when he settled in Paris with his family. Soon after completing his law studies in 1930, he decided to become a professional photographer under the name of René-Jacques. He specialized in the illustration of literary works but, as the income was not sufficient, he soon started working on advertising or corporate assignments and film set photography. In 1938, he published "Envoûtement de Paris" in collaboration with novelist and poet Francis Carco. At the same time, he produced documentary photo reports for magazines (Plaisir de France, Harper’s Bazaar…) and books such as the "Dictionnaire pittoresque de la France". In 1941, he participated in the activities of the Rectangle group, an association of photographers founded by Emmanuel Sougez in the mid-1930s and later joined another group, the “Groupe des XV” with Marcel Bovis, Pierre Jahan, Daniel Masclet… A successful, well published and exhibited professional, he was also an active member of his business community and founded the French association of advertising photographers in 1966. He retired in 1975 and died in Paris in 2003. In the 1980s, the Paris Historical Library (Bibliothèque Historique) acquired over 3,000 of his photographs of Paris and the region, now distributed by Roger-Viollet on an exclusive basis.
Gare Saint-Lazare train station. Paris (VIIIth arrondissemennt), 1946. Photograph by René-Jacques (René Giton, 1908-2003). Paris, musée Carnavalet.
René-Jacques / Musée Carnavalet / Roger-Viollet
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Paris under the snow ; Paris under the snow. VIew of the Passage Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix from the rue des Couronnes, southward, and the Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix church. Paris (XXth arrondissement), 1947. Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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La Bastille, 14 juillet 1936. Colonne de Juillet. Photographie de René-Jacques (dit René Giton) (1908-2003). Papier gélatino-bromure brillant, 1936. Paris, musée Carnavalet.
René-Jacques / Musée Carnavalet / Roger-Viollet
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Café owner talking to his customers, at the corner of the rue de Varenne and the boulevard des Invalides. Paris (VIIth arrondissement), 1942. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Guerre 1939-1945. Bureau du Secours National. Organisation de l'aide aux sinistrés : un atelier de tricot. Paris (XIIIème arr.), 1940-1944. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Guerre 1939-1945. Bureau du Secours National. Jardin d'enfant, douche d'un enfant par une infirmière. Paris (XIIIème arr.), 1940-1944. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Guerre 1939-1945. Bureau du Secours National. Paris (XIIIème arr.), 1940-1944. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Guerre 1939-1945. Scènes de vie. Repas de famille dans une ferme. Lieu non identifié, 1940-1944. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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La Seine. Panorama sur l'ile Saint-Louis et l'ile de la Cité, depuis le restaurant La Tour d'Argent, quai de la Tournelle, n°15-17. Paris (Vème et IVème arr.), 1957-1958. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Place de la Concorde. The fountain of Maritime Navigation ("Fontaine des mers") and the Obelisk, at night. Paris (VIIIth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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USINES RENAULT. BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT. HAUTS-DE-SEINE. CHAÎNE DE MONTAGE DES FREGATES ; Renault factory. Renault. Frégate assembly line. Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), 1954. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Place de la Concorde, towards the rue Royale. Paris (Ist arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Place Vendôme, from the top of the column. Paris (Ist arrondissement), 1949. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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View of the Eiffel Tower from the banks of the river Seine. Paris (VIIth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Maternity hospital. Breast-feeding, 1940-1944. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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View of the cathedral from the wheatfields. Chartres (France). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Tracks of the Gare de l'Est train station under the snow. View from the bridge of the rue Lafayette. Paris (Xth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
Renault factories. Tires. Boulogne-Billancourt (France), 1954. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), French sculptor, January 1904. Photograph by Henry Walter Barnett (1862-1934). Fonds René-Jacques. Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet and writer, on the set of "Remorques", film by Jean Grémillon. France, 1939-1941. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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The river Seine. The pont de la Tournelle where begins the quai de la Tournelle, towards Notre-Dame cathedral. A horse-drawn carriage. Paris (IVth and Vth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Place de la Concorde. A fountain, at night. Paris (VIIIth arrondissement), 1952. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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View of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro ponds. Fountains at night. Paris (XVIth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Renault manufacture. Workers on the footbridge of the Ile Seguin. Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), 1954. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Montmartre. Stairs, rue de la Bonne, at night. Paris (XVIIIth arrondissement), 1948. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Lovers on the banks of the river Seine. Paris, 1945. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Atelier de couture avec femmes. France, 1940-1944. Photographie de René Giton dit René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
Ménilmontant. Stairs of the rue Vilin, under the snow. Paris (XXth arrondissement), 1947. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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The lines of the gare de l'Est from the pont Lafayette, under the snow. Paris (Xth arrondissement), 1947. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Gare de l'Est. Stairs at the rue d'Alsace, from the passage Delanos, under the snow. Paris (Xth arrondissement), 1947. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Ménilmontant. Stairs of the rue Vilin, under the snow. Paris (XXth arrondissement), 1947. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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The Pont des Arts and the Institut de France, quai de Conti : fishermen's rowing boats. Paris (Ist and VIth arrondissements). Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Pont du Landy on the Saint-Denis canal. Aubervilliers (France), 1945. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Montmartre. Stairs, rue de la Bonne, at night. Paris (XVIIIth arrondissement), 1948. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Place de la Concorde. Sea fountain and obelisk, at night. Paris (VIIIth arrondissement). Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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8 square du Rhône (author's home) at night under the snow. Paris (XVIIth arrondissement), March 1946. Photograph by René Giton known as René-Jacques (1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
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Montmartre, "Café des 4 Vents", 18 rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre, at night. Paris (XVIIIth arrondissement), 1947. Photograph by René Giton (known as René-Jacques, 1908-2003). Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris.
René-Jacques / BHVP / Roger-Viollet
Prior permission required for all advertising & promotional use or use on consumer goods & derivative products.