L'Illustration, No. 3674, 26 Juillet 1913

This issue offers a lively snapshot of Paris in 1913, blending visual splendor with cultural commentary. A full‑color engraving by Van der Weyden opens the pages, followed by a serialized theater‑novel that teases the next act of its drama. A concise two‑page economic supplement and a portrait of the statesman Louis Barthou round out a diverse program that feels like a curated conversation with the city’s artistic and civic pulse.

The centerpiece is a whimsical essay on the illustrator Poulbot’s newest “poupées,” a playful rebellion against the stiff, uniform dolls of the market. Poulbot describes his creations as miniature reflections of the street children he sketches—hands, faces, hair, and even tiny mouths that could hold a spoonful of soup. His aim is to give each figure a distinct personality, turning a simple toy into a miniature, living portrait of everyday Parisian life.