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This dynamic photograph captures holidaymakers waterskiing from the pier of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes in 1958, epitomizing the exuberant spirit of the French Riviera's golden age. The image perfectly embodies the sophisticated leisure culture that defined the Mediterranean playground for international high society during the late 1950s. Set against the backdrop of the legendary Carlton Hotel, this photograph showcases the seamless blend of luxury hospitality and adventurous recreation that made Cannes the ultimate destination for the global elite. The scene captures the essence of post-war optimism and prosperity, when the French Riviera represented freedom, glamour, and the pursuit of pleasure, offering a glimpse into an era when waterskiing from five-star hotel piers was the epitome of Continental sophistication and joie de vivre.
Slim Aarons, renowned for his evocative photographs of, as he described it, "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places," was the quintessential chronicler of high society. After serving as a war photographer, Aarons turned his lens to a new landscape: the glamorous lives of Hollywood elites, Palm Beach socialites, and jet-setting debutantes and princes. His work for society publications captured an aspirational world of leisure and luxury that defined the American upper class throughout the mid-20th century, creating images that remain timeless symbols of sophistication and style.
Every piece in our unique Slim Aarons collection is meticulously handcrafted using archival materials and printed on premium, luster photographic paper with environmentally safe inks, custom framed by skilled artisans who ensure that each work of art meets the exacting standards befitting such an iconic photograph.
