Contemporaneous Comments, criticism and opinions on the Collection of Major Tournassoud - 1919

(The "Collection of Major Tournassoud" was a show of his prints of World War I).

Le Photographe (magazine, Paris) Jun 5, 1919
The eagerness of the visitors to see these photographic enlargements, true paintings, visions alas too real of these terrible scenes of war, show the powerful interest, the deep impression, which is created by a photograph when the photographer knows, like Major Tournassoud, as a true artist, to convey through the plates, the feeling which emerges from everywhere.

Progrès de Lyon (daily newspaper) Feb 8, 1919
During the Great War, in full action, to see exactly the facts and the things, to fix them on plates with a sharp eye and coolness, so that the pictures become at the same time authentic scenes of history and paintings: some show the desolation and the ruins, others the heroic dedications of the men, others still scenes of the familiar yet so particular life which was, for nearly five years, the life of the soldiers and of their officers, such is the work presented by Major Tournassoud, of Lyon.

Alsace-Lorraine (newspaper, Strasbourg), Aug 21, 1919
Given the outstanding value of the Tournassoud Collection, and given what it represents of work and efforts and for the viewers, of memories, we think that all the Strasbourgeois should go and see it... and visit it again!

Journal d'Alsace (newspaper, Mulhouse), Oct 20, 1919
The majority of the prints are true etchings, priceless and valuable documents, instantaneous shots, which will be used by many in the future...

Le Messin (newspaper, Metz), Jul 28, 1919
With an usual balance and a very sharp artistic feeling , in the true sense of the word, Major Tournassoud selected, among so many , the sites, the events, the episodes, the landscapes, able to shock us up and to hold our attention...

From the office of Marechal Joffre (Chief of the French Army)
Marechal Joffre received the beautiful album that you sent to him. He took the keenest interest to read it and asked me to express you his congratulations for the work of art which you carried out and his warmest thanks.

General Buat , (Chief of Staff of the Army)
The copy of your album "the War", that I have just received, is splendid and gave me an extreme pleasure. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for such an artistic and lively work...

General Degoutte. (The Commanding General of the Sixth Army)
I thank you very much for your superb Album "the War". I highly appreciated his artistic character as well as the patriotic spirit which animates it...

Général Pershing. (Overall American Commander in Europe during World War I)
Please accept my sincere thanks for the copy of the album "the War" which you sent to me. I read it with great interest and great pleasure. You deserve to be congratulated for these splendid prints of the World War events and I will speak highly of them at every opportunities.

Mr. Paul Leon, (Ministry of Education and the Art)
... Among the many collections of the War, I do not know any that can compare with yours. The composition of the scenes and the interpretation of the facts give an exceptional character of art, and it is enough to say that I will do all that I can do to support its diffusion...

Letter to J-B Tournassoud from Rene Bashet, director of the newspaper "L'Illustration" (extracted) - Nov 1917.

My dear Capitaine,
as the General Gouraud wishes that we publish a beautiful page on the foreign legion glorious flag, I told him that you only, would be able to make this page for us. It would be necessary to make, in addition to the photograph in black and white, an exactly similar Autochrome plate... The General would like the flag laid down on the stack of weapons; but I told him to give you total freedom because you have the genius for the arrangements... It has to be a complete success; it is a patriotic piece of work.

Yours sincerely, my capitaine.
Rene Baschet director of the Illustration

Extracts of the file of the states of service of Jean-Baptist Tournassoud - Notations

1903... (Captain Tournassoud) was in charge of the organization of the library and of the conferences for the troops which he handled with great success.... He was a very skilful photographer, and knew how to interest his audience with instructive slide shows.... 1904.....A fine musician, a very skilful photographer, he uses his talents for the creation of orphéons and the installation of cameras for slide shows.....1905... An excellent company officer, Tournassoud still takes care with zeal of the conferences for the troop. Perfect behavior, control and morality.... has chaired a commission for the procurement of horses in the Alps region. Detached since July to the geographical service of the Staff of the 14e corps.

Copy of a handwritten letter from Auguste Lumière to Mrs Tournassoud at the time of the death of Jean Tournassoud. (Lyon, Jan 9, 1951.)

Dear Madam,

It is with a deep emotion that I learned the sudden death of our dear friend whom I had the pleasure of seeing in excellent health only recently.

We did not forget the collaboration, so kind, so devoted and so qualified that he was always willing to give to us and it is with a very deep regret that we bear the hardship of this painful news.

Be sure that we take a great sympathy for your sorrow and please receive, dear Madam, the expression of our heartfelt condolences as well as our faithfully and sincerely devoted thoughts.

Auguste Lumière