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. [1] 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. [1] [2] 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. [1]
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. [2]
Their father was Maurice (Moritz) Biederer and their mother was Augustine "Gusti" Biederer. Their siblings were their brothers Emanuel and Hugo and their sister was Rosa. [3]
In 1908 Jacques relocated to Paris where he founded a photography studio, with Charles following in 1913 to most probably assist him as a photographer. [1] The studio was situated at 33 boulevard du Temple, Paris. [4]
Ostra Studio was established in the late 1930s to publish Éditions Ostra, albums of photosets based around erotic themes. [1] The Ostra Studio also did commercial photography for erotic books and Yva Richard’s mail-order catalogue La Lingerie Moderne. [1] The brothers named the Ostra Studio in homage to their hometown – Moravska-Ostrava. [5] [6]
In the 1930s, Biederer was amongst 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), and La Vase Brise (The Broken Vase). Erotic spanking is a feature of all three. [7]
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. [3]
Biederer was a forerunner of later photographers and artists with similar interests, such as Charles Guyette, John Willie, and Irving Klaw. [2]