Rupert Carabin Set of Six Castanet Dancers

Carabin's captivating group of six bronze dancers showcases nude models passionately wielding castanets. Five of the dancers are depicted in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, while the sixth dancer adopts a traditional flamenco stance known as the braceo, characterized by one arm raised and the other resting at the hips in an elegant S shape. The inspiration behind these castanet dancers likely stems from the renowned Spanish performer Carmencita, who gained international fame following her performance at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Carabin's artistic vision drew from a series of 600 albumen prints capturing nude prostitutes, who frequented local brothels on streets like Rue des Moulins, de Richelieu, d’Amboise, or Joubert. Carabin's early years were marked by his family's exile from Alsace, leading him to settle in Montmartre's red-light district at nine. As an adult, he immersed himself in the vibrant atmosphere of Montmartre's renowned clubs, including the Chat Noir and the Café de la Nouvelle Athènes. In 1895, Carabin crafted 600 nude albumen prints, all of which found a home in the permanent collection of the Musée d'Orsay. Renowned artists such as Degas, Monet, Rodin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Renoir were avid collectors of Carabin's work, making the prime example of an artists artist.