Garcon Collection

Garcon De Cafe 1850
A French garcon de cafe, or cafe waiter. Date: 1850

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (Jeune); Lad; Bursche (engraving)
7196117 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (Jeune); Lad; Bursche (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Garcon (Jeune); Lad; Bursche

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (de restaurant); Waiter; Kellner (engraving)
7196121 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (de restaurant); Waiter; Kellner (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Garcon (de restaurant); Waiter; Kellner

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (Petit); Boy; Knabe (engraving)
7196116 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (Petit); Boy; Knabe (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Garcon (Petit); Boy; Knabe

Interior of the Ambassadors theatre-restaurant
A sketch of the interior of the Ambassadors theatre-restaurant with the Blackbirds show of 1926 in progress with Florence Mills as en garcon. Sketch by Hemjic Date: 1926

Le garcon de cafe, Paris 1850
Parisian men and women being served in a coffeehouse. 1850

The Diner Who Addressed The Maitre D Hotel As Garcon
Maitre D Hotel stunned by a offensive presumption that he is a waiter not a manager. Bateman (1887-1970) was a popular artist and regularly contributed to the Sketch, the Tatler and the Bystander

Alphonse Legros, Landscape with a Boy in a Tree (Paysage avec un garcon gimpe sur un arbre dite " Le denicher d oiseaux), French, 1837 - 1911, etching and drypoint on light green paper

Honora Daumier (French, 1808 - 1879), Ah! il est frais mais t nez donc garazon
Honora© Daumier (French, 1808 - 1879), Ah! il est frais mais t nez donc garazon, 1846, lithograph

Charles-Nicolas Cochin I after Jean Sima on Chardin (French, 1688 - 1754), Le Garcon
Charles-Nicolas Cochin I after Jean Sima© on Chardin (French, 1688 - 1754), Le Garcon cabaretier, 1740, engraving

Garcons de Cafe, illustration form The Yellow Book, 1894 (litho)
XIR377164 Garcons de Cafe, illustration form The Yellow Book, 1894 (litho) by Beardsley, Aubrey (1872-98); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Russian Waiter in his pristine white uniform and clutching a teatowel, which appears not to have The 50 Best Windmills of East Anglia on it... Date: 1902

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"Garcon: A Timeless Figure in Parisian Culture" Step back in time to 1850, where the bustling streets of Paris were adorned with charming cafes. Amongst them, Garcon De Cafe 1850 stood tall, serving patrons with a smile and impeccable service. Le garcon de cafe, an iconic figure of that era, was captured beautifully in engravings from Le Vocabulaire Illustre. Known as the lad or bursche, this young waiter embodied elegance and professionalism. But the term "garcon" didn't stop there. It also referred to a young boy or knabe depicted in another engraving from Le Vocabulaire Illustre. These illustrations showcased the diverse roles this word encompassed within society. One such role was seen at the Ambassadors theatre-restaurant's interior—a place where garcons brought joy through their swift service and attention to detail while guests enjoyed theatrical performances. Artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir immortalized garcons' presence by painting "Garcons nus dans les rochers a Guernsey" on canvas—depicting their youthful energy against nature's backdrop. Intriguingly enough, one diner even addressed the esteemed Maitre D Hotel as "garcon, " showcasing how deeply ingrained this term had become in everyday conversation. The significance of garcons extended beyond just restaurants; it made its mark at The Paris Exhibition—an event that celebrated French culture through various mediums including engravings and lithographs like "Illustration for Paris Brillant. " Fast forward to May 13th, 1960—the vibrant cafe scenes of central Paris came alive once again. Photographs captured these moments when waiters donning aprons proudly carried trays filled with delicacies while embodying the spirit of garcons past. Even today, flipping through Album GUARD (page 48), we are reminded that sometimes we need someone smaller than ourselves.