Biederer/Ostra Studios

(French Erotic Photography Studio owned by Czech brothers Jacques and Charles Biederer)

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Studio Biederer (also known as Biederer Studio) was a French studio for erotic photography, managed by the Czech brothers Jacques Biederer (born 1887; died c. 1942) and Charles Biederer (born 1892; died c. 1942).

Very closely related to Studio Biederer was the quasi-distinct Ostra Studio, founded in an attempt to create a separate publishing house. In practice, however, Ostra Studio only ever functioned as a subdivision of Studio Biederer, with both studios referred to as separate yet intertwined divisions under a single management that effectively functioned as Studio Biederer.

The studio was situated at 33 boulevard du Temple, Paris.

Pictured: A woman spanking another woman with a violin bow, a notably unconventional implement

Ostra Studio was established in the late 1930s to publish Éditions Ostra, albums of photosets based around erotic themes. The Ostra Studio also did commercial photography for erotic books and Yva Richard’s mail-order catalogue La Lingerie Moderne. The brothers named the Ostra Studio in homage to their hometown – Moravska-Ostrava.

Although identifying works by Jacques Biederer is not difficult, distinguishing between those published by Studio Biederer and those specifically produced under the Ostra Studio label is more challenging.

Pictured: A kneeling woman in handcuffs and wearing a chastity belt, with a Dominatrix standing above her

The primary content of Biederer/Ostra was female nudes, female bondage and erotic spanking. Erotic spanking images were predominantly all female, although some were produced that featured men spanking women and women spanking men.

In the 1930s, Biederer was among the first to produce BDSM stag reels. The exact number is unknown, but at least three works are known to have been produced and survived:

• Dressage au Fouet (Raising with the Whip)
• Sous Les Caresses du Martinet (Under the Caresses of the Martinet)
• La Vase Brise (The Broken Vase).

Erotic spanking is a feature of all three.

Pictured: A dominatrix and a woman restrained to bondage furniture

During the German occupation of France, the brothers, who were of Jewish descent, were arrested. Charles was deported with transport 4 from Pithiviers transit camp to Auschwitz-Birkenau on 25 June 1942. Jacques was deported with transport 6 from Pithiviers to Birkenau on 17 July 1942.