émile Zola - Autograph Business Card Signed, Germinal Period - The Earth

Émile ZOLA (1840-1902), autograph carte de visite signed to the editorial staff of Paris Jeune (probably to Albert Sérieys, the magazine's young director)

[1886] - Médan. Size: 5.7 x 9.5 cm - With magnetic Plexiglas presentation frame (included): 10 x 15 cm

Paris-Jeune was a small literary, artistic and lyrical journal that began publication precisely in 1886 (its publication runs from 1886 to 1888). Young directors of ephemeral magazines like Paris-Jeune used to send their productions to the "masters" of literature (Zola, Hugo in his time, Goncourt...), usually adding a flattering poem or dedication, in the hope of getting a word of support.

In 1886, Émile Zola was at the height of his fame and of the naturalist controversy: just as he was triumphing with the resounding success of Germinal, published the previous year, he secluded himself in his Médan estate to write La Terre, a masterpiece that was to deeply divide the literary world.

With belated thanks for the kind dedication of the sonnet, - and with best wishes for the success of "Paris-Jeune".

Émile Zola