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During the 1950s and '60s, street photography was just starting to take foot as an art form, and French photographer René Maltête gave it a push with his candid and humorous scenes.
In 1951, Maltête moved to Paris at the age of 21, and bought a Semflex 6×6 camera 3 years later in hopes of pursuing a serious photography career. His big break, however, came with a series of photos that were slightly less than serious. He became known for his 'stumbled-upon' scenes of street life that teemed with ironic humor, showing how the funniest things that happen in life are often just a matter of good timing.
Though René Maltête sadly passed away in 2000, his work continues to be published and praised. Have a look at some of his best shots below, and don't forget to vote for your favourites.
More info: René Maltête
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#1
Deborah Lloyd 8 years ago
Then that woman on the left must be related.....😁
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Arletty Devis 8 years ago
Très belle photo, conçue en effet on dirait pour expliquer la génétique.
RELATED:
#2
OneEyePuppy 8 years ago
I am Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen. The First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khalisee of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons.
#5
Susann Campbell 8 years ago
"Kiss me and slowly get up and we will walk away, don't look up. Okay?"
Uno. playero 8 years ago
"don't look at that body, look at my jacket" :-)
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#6
Mariya Stoyanova 8 years ago
I wonder if it was a statue similar to the previous one, running away from having to watch people make out around 😃😃
#7
Mariya Stoyanova 8 years ago
And even when playing "together" each of "them" plays on their own chess board 😃😃
#9
tatiana gonzales 8 years ago
Petite Jacques... I have told you not to play on electrical wires, now come down!
Heidi Smith 8 years ago
"honey come out here! johnny found the invisible flying chair again and i cant get him down!"
Dan Mongosa 8 years ago
Rare photo of Wonder Woman receiving her invisible plane birthday present from Daddy
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Molly Block 8 years ago
I'd upvote this 100+ times if I could, to show how religious fanatics are like sheep-- known as "sheeple!" Brainwashed religious people = sheep, the 'herd mentality,' = sheeple. This photo is my favorite so far!
jacluckycat 8 years ago
I've only ever heard someone say "sheeple" on the Simpsons and it was satirizing people who think their obtuse metaphors are clever or unique
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#13
Jean Donahue 8 years ago
Being a conjoined twin is hard enough when you're both the same sex!!
#14
Ann Ros'a 8 years ago
No it's from the 50s, see all the supplies and the new desk. LOL 😆😆
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Pedro Atreides 8 years ago
Well, the book "un gros mot sur le bout de la langue" was first published in 2003, so... she's a time traveller!!
#15
Kann 8 years ago
It's a personal choice. No one should feel obliged to shave or not to shave. Plus, if this photo was of a man, I guess you wouldn't complain so.
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#16
Doncar 8 years ago
That's right! It's not a hose but a lead pipe. They used to be made of lead, a malleable metal that came in coils. That is before copper and pvc pipes.
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Yugan Talovich 8 years ago
Thank you!! I was lost without your translation!
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louise percival 8 years ago
I don't what the word says - but I feel a little bit tingly said Fido !
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Peter Korsten 8 years ago
And it wasn't in France. Doesn't mean that it's fake, though, just that it wasn't in France and that it wasn't in the 1950.
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Megan Johnson 8 years ago
They are mimicking the elevations of the buildings in the background?
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Molly Block 8 years ago
So how did he create this photo then? Since the WTC towers were not built until the 70's? This photo must have been taken in the 70's then, in NYC, not France. I guess it's just a photo that got tossed into this mix, since it's one of his..... I didn't get it at first either, until the comment below about how they are ascending like the buildings in the background. I don't like this photo at all and I down-voted it.
ErMerGerd ItBecky 8 years ago
Oh my god we really don't care what you thought of the damn photo or whether it was taken forty or seventy years ago. It's a better picture than you'll ever take. Jesus Christ stop being a pedant and enjoy it.
Load More Replies... Julie Julie 8 years ago
It's clearly not France and not from the 50s but since he died in 2000 he could have taken this photo. It's not "fake". The title of the article is just not right.
Ann Ros'a 8 years ago
LOL you're right, we're finished until after 1970...
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Michael Freeman 8 years ago
Maybe the compiler made a mistake. Mistakes do happen and are forgivable. The photo was taken in New York as part of a fashion piece.
#20
Tali Barak 8 years ago
if I remember my highshcool french .CHIEN MECHANT means BAD DOG OR MEAN DOG
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Ironcat_xox 8 years ago
This always happens to me it's like the cutest dog in the world but when I pet it IT BITES MY ARM OFF!!!!
#21
Lilya 8 years ago
The only one I can find on is a true definition and I don't have to be able because of my other articles. ;))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
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Mariam mayu 8 years ago
That means Intersection of roads, you must let the peoples from the right road pass ( sorry for my english hope you get the meaning)
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#22
louise percival 8 years ago
Wow ! What a fantastic night that was said Margaret - these aren't my clothes but it's better than being naked !
Molly Block 8 years ago
Why is he holding that cloth around him when he already has a suit on? Should've been smoke coming out of that pipe too--that would have been really cool.
#23
Laura Gray 8 years ago
Arnold - they're on our bench! We always sit on that bench - everyone knows that! Arnold you have to tell them it's our bench! Do something Arnold!!
#24
Alternathy 8 years ago
Take a picture first, help later. Nothing's changed the last few years..
Isabelle Bishop 8 years ago
Wouldn't come to your mind this is staged ? Nothing new there.
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Molly Block 8 years ago
Someone is getting lucky and someone else isn't! But agree with me, those are ALL the feet of men, aren't they? Are they?? LOL!
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#27
Molly Block 8 years ago
He is a walking advertisement for skiing safety. I happen to be on crutches right now after breaking my fibula, but it wasn't from skiing.
louise percival 8 years ago
Lucy, look at that man - he's so not 'in' he's wearing last season's jacket !
#28
Laura Gray 8 years ago
is there a way to check these two for melons without getting your face smacked?
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Lua boots 8 years ago
I live in Paris and I think this one is my street xD... they are still working on that road >_< Endless works everywhere :) yeah... T_T
Rick Hamilton 8 years ago
Obviously a made up shot---- Pneumatic jackhammer w/o an air hose. Many shots in this series are "posed".
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#37
Daanish Kazi 8 years ago
was expecting a translation already and here it is ;)
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elizabeth tenchu 8 years ago
It's look like they're invasing the world.."we come in peace" moohohoho
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#40
Mariya Stoyanova 8 years ago
I couldn't have put the essence of the picture better in a few words. Right on spot
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#41
María Emilia Martínez 8 years ago
If you know you did a crime, please enter. Don't make us to do all the work!
#42
Madelene Amendola 8 years ago
Yeah. I don't know if I'd linger in that spot . . .
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#43
Gemala Hapsari 8 years ago
picture from Bretagne? (=brittany). Guessing from the lady's traditional hat..?
Peter Kealey 8 years ago
I thought she was wearing a paper towel dispenser on her head. :-)
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Lynn Donovan 8 years ago
The first poster promotes a fair for young people and families. But the boys seem to have grown up :)
Karen Drucks 8 years ago
8 or eighty, boys will be boys.....when they stop looking, they'll be dead....
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Lynn Donovan 8 years ago (edited)
For those who don't speak French : the text was initially "Cordonnerie" (a shoe repair shop) but the blanket hides the "RDO" and we now read "Connerie" (a screw-up)
Stille20 8 years ago
As I am scrolling through, I keep thinking, "Lynn is going to explain" :)
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#55
Stefano Aprea 8 years ago
This is a self-portrait of Rene Maltet, author of all these photos. Here in old age rene-58df9...5d2608.jpg 
Karen Drucks 8 years ago
Old? who are you calling old...he can't have been over his early 40s....you young whippersnapper...
#56
#57
Karl Dupart 8 years ago
And the man is next to Bonne Nouvelle (= good news) metro station.
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Ostide Calisse 8 years ago
The guy shoveling cement looks like Robert Lepage: LEPAGE_Rob...reault.jpg 
Jon Payne 8 years ago
He's using a cement mixer, though the sign is for a traffic round-a-bout.
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#59
Molly Block 8 years ago
Look at those gaps in the brickwork on the road. A woman in heels could NEVER walk on that.
Briana Blair 8 years ago
Yes Molly, that's why the balls of your feet will be sore afterwords.
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George Foster 8 years ago
If I stare at it long enough, it will burst into flames ... or not !!!
Susann Campbell 8 years ago
See if you let the women do all the work then when they are not around you can't even light a fire. Hope you know how to fee the dog.
Harmony Floyd 8 years ago
The woman and child in the picture might have died ( his wife and expecting child ) during birth ?
#61
#62
Stefan Reiff 8 years ago
Wait! You mean Handel's "Water Music" isn't played IN the water at all???
Camille FM 4 years ago
This photograph is not from René Maltête, but Is From Robert Doisneau, Representing The Actor-Violoncellist-Ski Champion Maurice Baquet. It comes from a long series they make together called "Mélimélomane"
#63
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Richard Oude Egbrink 8 years ago
I think it's the shadow of the two looking like one person with 4 legs
Susann Campbell 8 years ago
Waiting for the tide to go out so that they can sand pick treasures.
Ophelia Vandergurgleduffen 8 years ago
The man is angular, the woman is rounded. Like the stairs.
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#67
Dolores 8 years ago
I'm pretty sure leapfrog is called saute-mouton in french (jump over sheep)
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Elly Clifton 8 years ago
We count sheep jumping fences to go to sleep, maybe they count people?
#68
Vlad Horobet 8 years ago
most of this article made sense because you "translated" most of the photos. Merci, mademoiselle!
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Nihad Jariri 8 years ago
Thank you Lynn. I agree with Vlad Horobet; your translation was instrumental.
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