Dr Nina S. Studer
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drninastuder.bsky.social
Dr Nina S. Studer
@drninastuder.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.3K following 500 posts
Historian, IEH2, University of Geneva

History of medicine & psychiatry, gender issues & drinking studies in the colonial Maghreb. Current: https://wetdreams.hypotheses.org/ 🗃️🍸

Passionate about literature and theatre.

She/her

https://nina-studer.com
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drninastuder.bsky.social
My wonderful friend, Cordelia Bähr, co-authored a book based on her successfully bringing a Swiss case to the European Court of Human Rights - the case of the #Klimaseniorinnen. The court ruled that protection from climate change is a human right #climate #ClimateChange #Klima #newbook
Picture is a photograph of a book on a black background. It shows a scene in the mountains, where people put a gigantic plaster on a melting glacier. Around the plaster, there are about 20 people. The title of the book is in orange: "Als die Schweiz ins Schwitzen kam: Die Klimaseniorinnen" ("When Switzerland broke out in a sweat: the climate seniors"). The authors are Brigitte Hürlimann, Cordelia Bähr and Elisabeth Stern.
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
And more for people in Switzerland: I will give a presentation with the title "Leaky Masculinities: Imperialism & Nocturnal Pollutions in 19th-Century Medical Theories" at the ETHZ-UZH Research Colloquium in Global and Extra-European History in Zürich next week! Do come!

🗃️ #histmed #skystorians
Screenshot of the programme of the "Joint ETHZ-UZH Research Colloquium in Global and Extra-Euroepan History", on Thursdays, 16:15-17:45, at ETH Zürich Hauptgebäude, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich. At the top, it says "University of Zürich" and "ETH Zürich". Below this is a 19th-century map of the world, showing, I guess, trading routes. Below this map, it shows the first two presentations of this seminar. The first is one by Dr. Lasse Heerten (on the 2nd of October), and the second is by Dr. Nina Studer (Université de Genève), on the 16th of October 2025.
October 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
If anybody is in Geneva in the week of the 20th of October: Please come on Tuesday, the 21st of October 2025 (5:00pm), to the opening of the exhibition “Masculinity in Question: Remedies and Devices against Nocturnal Emissions (18th to 21st Centuries)” at the CMCSS, Campus Batelle, Bâtiment A!

🗃️
This image shows a black and white, early 20th century French advert for an electronic belt (Herculex, by a Dr Sanden), early 20th century. On the right hand side is the drawing of an older man in formal clothes, while on the left hand side, there is a drawing of two young, white men, wearing only shorts. The one on the left is holding up one of these belts in his right hand, while also wearing one, while the one on the right is on his knees, in the process of getting up, looking up at the other man. The title of this advert is "Regained Virility".
October 6, 2025 at 7:43 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Even though outside my field of research, I've long been aware of the adverts for "Salem Aleikum" cigarettes, produced in late 19th/early 20th century Dresden. Today I have come across this bizarre image from 1903 of a horned (?), pointy-eared bearded smoking man. I am at a loss - ideas? 🗃️🚬 #History
This image shows a black and white advert. In the middle is the image of a bearded man. It is a close-up of his face. In his right hand, he holds a cigarettes and swirls of smoke can be seen around his face. He has large pointy ears and seems to have horns. The text says, in German: "Oh, this is a treat. No frills. Just quality. Salem Aleikum-Cigarettes". This image can be found in "Jugend: Münchner illustrierte Wochenschrift für Kunst und Leben", 1903, 2, p. 27.
August 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Came across on of these "in the wild" - in Stockholm of all places! I spotted it in the street, on the wall of the Bistrot "Pastis"! #DrinkingStudies 🗃🍸
Image of a part of an outside wall, during the day. A stop sign can be seen and a lamp. On the left hand side is a yellow poster for Ricard, showing a desert scene, with a camel carrying alcohol and led by a man in North African, heavily Orientalised clothes.
June 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Court cases - many of them murder cases! - are also often "humorously" depicted in these Oxygénée Cusenier sketches in "Le Sourire". In these, absinthe either played a role in the crimes or the defendants referred to absinthe to prove their truthfulness or humanity. Very strange! #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a black sketch on yellowish paper. It shows a court room, with the defendant (who has dark hair and a moustache and is wearing a coat) in the front. We see him half from the back. He is holding up his right arm. In the background are two men in dark-clothes, staring at the defendant. Below the sketch, it says, in French: "Swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. - I swear. - Tell us what you know. - What I know? That the one, the only, the best [drink], is Oxygénée Cusenier. Is that the truth?" This image was published in "Le Sourire" on the 09.12.1905, p.11. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. Warning - it is rather gruesome. It shows a group of men in a room. In the centre is a man sitting on a stool, labelled in the description as Jean Hiroux, a mythical criminal in 19th-century France. He wears striped trousers and a white shirt. His head is shaved and his hands are bound behind his back. To his right is an older man in a uniform with keys in his left hand - clearly the jailer. On the left and behind the prisoner are five other men, all wearing black clothes and looking very serious. One of them is talking to the prisoner, while another one does something to his neck - perhaps measuring him? Below the image it says in French: "Supreme deception. Jean Hiroux. - I don't care that they refused me my pardon... But that I should be refused a Oxygénée Cusenier, that's barbarism! ..." This image was published in "Le Sourire" on the 13.02.1909, p.10. This image shows a black sketch on yellowish paper. It shows a scene in a court room. On the right hand side is a group of three men. The one in the middle is the defendant, who is standing up and talking to the judges in the background. He is dark-haired and has a moustache. He wears striped trousers and a dark coat. Behind him is a man in a uniform. In front of him, on a bench, there is another man, perhaps his lawyer? In the background, on the left is a second set of three men, all judges. While two of them smile at the defendant, the one in the middle ("Le Président", older and with a white beard) looks very serious and his hand is raised, in refusal. Below the image it says in French: "Le Président. - So you were drinking before you killed your victim... What did you drink? Absinthe? - The accused. - Yes, mon Président. Unfortunately for me it wasn't Oxygénée Cusenier... The resident [sic]. - No advertising here! Say rather why you wanted to make the corpse disappear. The accused. - Why, mon Président, the cloak was in the way [a pun, because this phrase "l'occis gênait" sounds like l'Oxygénée]... The President. - Once again, I repeat, no advertising here!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 16.01.1909, p.9.
June 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Another thematic cluster in these Cusenier sketches in "Le Sourire" particularly surprises & amuses me: mountaineering! Oxygénée Cusenier was depicted as a force of energy - for men & women! - both when the mountain climbing was successful & when it was evidently not! #DrinkingStudies #Absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene in a mountain, during the day. A man is shown as having fallen from a mountain, his fall stopped by a branch through parts of his clothing. He is hanging, currently, from this branch. Above him is another man, at the top of that ravine, on his hands and knees, looking over the edge and shouting down to the man. Behind them, one can see a bird in the sky and mountains. Below this image it says, in French: "Be brave! ... I'm going down to the village to get some ropes! ... - Don't forget to bring up a good [glass or bottle of] Oxygénée Cusenier at the same time." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 08.12.1906, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene in the mountains, during the day. It shows two figures, behind them trees and the mountains. The figure at the top of the image shows a young woman in elegant clothes, with a hat and a walking stick in her left hand, looking down and smiling at the other figure, a man. She is holding her hat with her right hand and wearing dainty boots. The man is wearing outdoorsy clothes and a hat. He has a mustache and carries a walking stick in his right hand. He is looking up at the woman, smiling. Below this image, it says in French: "Him. - Sapristi, what strength! You can see that before leaving you drank a green Oxygénée Cusenier. - Her. - Sorry, my dear, I took two [glasses]..., one to take me up [the mountain] and the other to take me down." This image is published in "Le Sourire" on the 29.06.1907, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a man standing on two rocks in the mountains, during the day. He is wearing outdoorsy clothes and a hat. He carries some sort of a backpack and a long walking stick. Below him, it says in French: "Drinking Oxygénée Cusenier means drinking the obstacle - There are no more Pyrenees... and the Himalayas are just a molehill for the traveller with a bottle of Oxygénée Cusenier in his bag!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 16.05.1908, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene in the mountains, during the day. On the left hand side is a cliff face with a man (with a mustache) currently falling from it, feet first. His hat and walking stick and a couple of small rocks are falling, currently, above him. He is looking down, towards a waiter, who is looking up to him. We see the waiter from the back. Next to the waiter and below the falling men are tables. In the back, a couple is sitting at the table. In the very back, another couple is enjoying the view of the mountains. Below the image, it says in French: "Quick, waiter, quick! ... A [glass of] Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 17.08.1907, p. 10.
May 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Working-class women - consumers of Cusenier or not! - were depicted very differently. While bourgeoises were shown as daintily enjoying a glass of absinthe, working-class drinkers were depicted as gaining strength through it - clearly interpreted as a masculine attribute! #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows two middle-aged women, notably not as thin and elegant as the upper-class women usually depicted in these sketches. It is inside and behind them seems to be a laundry tub and perhaps a pile of clothes. The woman on the left is seen from the front. She is wearing simple clothes, covered by an apron. She might be missing a tooth. The woman on the left is seen from behind. She is wearing more elegant clothes and turned towards the first woman. Below them it says, in French: "A bit crude, but so right! - Don't complain, Mélanie! ... You're lucky to be as strong as you are and to do all that hard work! ... - So, madam, do you think that Oxygénée Cusenier is for dogs? ..." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 01.02.1908, p. 10. This image is a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows two women walking along a street. Behind them you can see a branch of a tree and an advert, covered by the woman on the right, but clearly for "Oxygénée Cusenier". The woman on the right is a young, thin, dark-haired woman in elegant clothes. She is wearing an extravagant hat and a fur stole. The woman behind her is a servant, middle-aged and and more robust, carrying a basket. Both of them are looking towards the reader, the servant is smiling. Below them it says, in French: "Haven't we forgotten something, Marie? - Oh no, madame! I've got the two bottles of Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 23.02.1910, p. 10.
May 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
When it comes to women who consumed Oxygénée Cusenier, they were often depicted (in "Le Sourire" in the early 20th century) as very elegant & upper-class. As can be seen in the one with the title "Wedding Night", their consumption was however also regularly sexualised! #DrinkingStudies #Absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It depicts two elegant dark-haired women, standing outside, during the day, in a city. Both are wearing hats. Below the image it says, in French: "- Listen, my dear, I envy you, you should tell me the secret of your cheerfulness and freshness. - [It is] Simply my good stomach. I eat well and digest well: drink Oxygénée Cusenier, like me." This image was published in "Le Sourire" on the 13.01.1906, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows two women standing in a bedroom. On the left, behind the women is a dressing table, while there might be a bed behind them on the right. The woman on the left is a dark-haired young woman in an elegant wedding dress. Her hands are folded behind her back. The woman on the right is an older woman, white-haired, with a tear on her face and described as the mother in the description. She has her left hand on the younger woman's shoulder. In her right hand, she holds a glass. Below the image it says, in French: "Wedding night - The mother. - My dear child, at this solemn and... critical moment in your life, this will be more useful and supportive than all my advice and warnings: drink this Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 07.07.1906, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows three figures on a blank background. The one in the front is an elegant young woman, in an extravagant hat and carrying a handbag in her right hand and a little dog on her left hand. She is looking back. Behind her is a man, also wearing elegant clothes, carrying many large parcels. He is speaking with the woman in front of him. Behind him is a boy in uniform - a porter - carrying two large boxes. Below them it says, in French: "No, but... with this, do you need nothing more? - Yes, to water it all, some Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 04.05.1911, p. 13. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a room with two women in them, both are wearing elegant clothes. The one on the left is sitting down and seems to be wearing a fur coat. The one on the right - the one living in this place, probably - is standing and hands the other a glass. Behind them is a little table with another glass on, another little table with a flower arrangement and possibly a painting. Below them, it says in French: "The 'Five o'clock tea' is no longer fashionable! The chic hour is that of Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 12.01.1907, p. 10.
May 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
These sketches often show couples where the man is much older than the woman, and also touch on questions of class and consent. Oxygénée Cusenier could, apparently, truly help with all kinds of issues! #DrinkingStudies #Absinthe #Alcohol 🗃️🍸

Descriptions & references are, as always, in the captions.
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene outside, with two trees in the foreground, framing the sketch. It shows a hotel, with two tables outside. At one of these tables is a couple, kissing, hidden by the large hat of the woman. In the door is a waiter, carrying a bottle - of Cusenier - to them. In the foreground is a man, wearing a top hat and a walking stick, looking at them. Below them, it says, in French: "The colonel's trick. - What a joker the colonel is! I can see his famous trick with the women! He makes them drink Oxygénée Cusenier and they can no longer resist him!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 28.05.1910, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. it shows a couple, walking along a street or perhaps across a bridge. Day. In the background, there are trees and parts of building. In the foreground is a couple, consisting of an older man with a mustache and a top hat and a younger woman. Both are wearing elegant clothes. The woman is wearing a fur coat and carries a handbag. Below the image it says, in French: "Mademoiselle, do you want my heart? - Monsieur, I am an honest girl! - Will you accept an Oxygénée Cusenier? - Ah, you playful man! How you seduce women!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 05.10.1907, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a couple, inside, getting ready. The woman, who seems to be wearing underclothes and with her hair yet undone, stands behind the man and seems to be fixing his mustache. The man is already clothed, smoking a cigarette. The woman is talking to the man. Below the image it says, in French: "Aperitif. - You take it every day, don't you, darling, Oxygénée Cusenier? It's so good." The sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 08.11.1902, p. 11. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene outside. In the background are groups of elegant people, standing, under trees. In the foreground are two men, sitting on chairs. One of the men, on the left, is dark-haired, wearing elegant clothes. His legs are crossed and he has a walking stick in his right hand. He wears a top hat and has lifted his left hand towards the other man. The other man is wearing much less elegant clothes and has a stick in his mouth. Below the image it says, in French: "But no, my dear Ivan Éléphantovitch, it is not that your kind of beauty displeases Parisian women, it is just that you lack drive and vivacity. All you have to do to get it [drive and vivacity] is drink Oxygénée Cusenier, and all the women will go crazy for you!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 03.07.1909, p. 10.
May 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
The idea most commonly depicted in these sketches for Oxygénée Cusenier seems to be that women will be more attracted to a man if he is an avid drinker. Amazing! These are just a few examples from the early 20th century by different French artists. Details in the captions! #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
Sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a couple, in a field, during the day. The man is on his knee, pointing his left arm to the sky and with his right harm over his heart. The woman is holding a butterfly net and smiles down at him. Both wear elegant clothes. Below them, it says, in French: "The poet - To quench your thirst for the ideal and for love, to water your heart and your soul, what should I do, o woman? The woman. - Well, my dear, offer me a glass of Oxygénée Cusenier: When it's hot, it's heaven!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 26.06.1909, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a couple inside. Behind them is an unmade bed, on the left, and a washing basin, on the right. The dark-haired woman, wearing a dark dress, is standing behind the man, her left hand on his shoulder, her right hand on his arm. The man - dark haired and with a mustache - is fixing his tie, looking at her. Beneath the image it says, in French: "To be adored by women? Drink Oxygénée Cusenier" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 30.03.1907, p. 10. This image is a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows several people in the terrace of a café, during the day. On the left hand side, in the back, are two men standing under a tree. One of them is wearing a uniform. On the right hand side, there is a waiter, cleaning a table. In the front is a standing couple, consisting of an older man and a young woman, their faces close together. Both are wearing elegant clothes; the woman wears a hat with a complicated flower arrangement. The man is holding the woman's head in his left hand, while the woman is holding his coat. Below the image, it says, in French: "Listen, do you want to be nice, oh so nice? - I see what it is: dress or hat? - No, just a simple Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 02.05.1908, p. 10. This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows the rough outline of a plane, with a couple in it, in the open air. Behind them is the outline of Paris and the sun, but in the centre of the sun is a bottle of Oxygénée Cusenier. The man is at a steering wheel, while the woman stands half behind him, smiling at him. Both are wearing elegant clothes. Below the image, it says, in French: "To please the ladies. Him. - I'm sure what attracted you to me was that I'm an aviator? Her. - But no, you big silly [man]! It's that you're a great drinker of Oxygénée Cusenier!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 06.11.1909, p. 10.
May 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
As part of our project into the medical history of wet dreams (@wetdreams-hist.bsky.social) Ishita Pande will speak about "(Wet) Dreams of the Indian Nation: Colonialism, Consumerism & the Globalization of an Ailment" on the 13th of May. Do join us over zoom! unige.zoom.us/j/68123992256 #histmed 🗃️
This image is a poster for Ishita Pande (from Queen's University)'s presentation. It shows a sketch of a dark-haired Indian man with a mustache, naked apart from a loin cloth, sitting cross-legged. It is an illustration from a treatise on wet dreams. It also shows the title of the presentation "(Wet) Dreams of the Indian Nation: Colonialism, Consumerism, and the Globalization of an Ailment", at the University of Geneva.
May 1, 2025 at 9:09 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
In time for Easter: These two sketches show women reacting to being given Oxygénée Cusenier instead of chocolate eggs, with the one on the left (by Georges Léonnec, 1909) describing it as a "talisman of eternal love & youth" & the one on the right as "tasteful" (by A. Bertrand, 1905). #Absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a bedroom. In the bed is a dark-haired young woman in a kind of négligée. She is sitting up in bed. Next to the bed is a man in a coat, his arms on his hips. On the bed is a top hat and cane, next to it an Easter egg, opened, with a bottle of Cusenier inside. Below it, it says, in French: "A bottle of Oxygénée Cusenier!... Ah! how kind you are, my big wolf! You're giving me a talisman of eternal love and youth." The title of this sketch is "The Easter egg of Nichonette", a pet name that should probably be translated as something like "the little breast". This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 10.04.1909, p. 10. This image is a narrow sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a dark-haired woman, in an elegant black dress, standing in front of a table. On the table is a parcel, labelled as "Cusenier". Below this, it says, in French: "That's the spirit! A case of Cusenier liqueurs! A tasteful change from the usual Easter egg sweets." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 25.02.1905, p. 11.
April 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
The same regret - of not having distributed absinthe to the troops - is shown in this sketch from 1907 by the French caricaturist Jules Depaquit: "If I had given a [glass of] Oxygénée Cusenier to each of my soldiers on the morning of Waterloo, I would not be on Saint Helena!" #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows s small man - Napoleon - sitting on a chair in a full uniform and with his distinctive hat. In front of him is a large table with a bottle of Cusenier on. He has a full glass in his left hand. Behind him there are large shadows of both himself and the bottle. Below the image, it says, in French: "If I had given a [glass of] Oxygénée Cusenier to each of my soldiers on the morning of Waterloo, I would not be on Saint Helena!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 09.02.1907, p. 10.
April 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Another one showing Father Christmas: This one is by the French artist A. Bertrand, from 1906, with Père Noël saying: "Toys for the little ones, Oxygénée Cusenier for the grown-ups - that is how you make everyone happy!" I love the umbrella he seems to be carrying! #DrinkingStudies #absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a drawing, black on yellowish paper. It shows, in the foreground, a man with a white beard, in a black coat, shown as standing on the ground, but in front of clouds. On his back, he carries a basket, which he holds in place with his right hand. In his left hand, he has an umbrella that he leans on. He has a pipe in his mouth. Behind him, on the left hand side, is a village, with illuminated windows of a little church. Below the image, it says, in French: "Toys for the little ones, Oxygénée Cusenier for the grown-ups - that is how you make everyone happy!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 22.12.1906, p. 10.
April 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Even art found its way into these pro-absinthe sketches in "Le Sourire"! In 1908, the French illustrator Markous drew Rodin's sculpture "The Kiss" [from 1882]. The spectator is shown as saying: "To get the models to pose for him, he had to give them some Oxygénée Cusenier." #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. In the centre of the image is a sculpture - Rodin's "Le Baiser" - showing a sitting naked man and woman, kissing. We see the sculpture from the back, showing the naked back of the man and the arms of the woman. On the left hand side is a man, much smaller than the sculpture. He is wearing elegant clothes and a giant bow tie [don't know what this is called, sorry!], has a beard and moustache, carries a cane and a top hat. The sketch is called, in French: "In front of the 'Kiss' by Rodin. This sketch was published in "Le Sourire", on the 07.03.1908, p. 10.
April 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Other sketches showed seasonal celebrations like this one by Falco from 1908: Father Christmas is shown as distributing presents - bottles of Oxygénée Cusenier, of course! - by plane in Paris. Christmas is here a celebration of both progress (the plane) and absinthe, apparently! #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image is a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows, in the centre, Père Noël, sitting in a simple sort of plane, with bottles of Cusenier stored on the wings. Father Christmas - with a long white beard and in a dark coat - throws bottles of Cusenier down the chimneys of two houses in this image. Behind this, we can see more houses of Paris, with the Eiffel Tour in the background. Below the image it says, in French: "Long live progress! Thanks to this marvellous aeroplane, I'm doing my traditional rounds without getting tired, and next year, everyone will be in good health, because I'm bringing everyone a bottle of Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 26.12.1908, p. 9.
April 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Many of these sketches showed political figures. This one here - by Paul d'Espagnat - shows F.D. Roosevelt in 1910. Roosevelt explains that he got through the many events of a recent Europe trip with the help of absinthe: "Thanks to Oxygéne Cusenier, my dear! That's my secret." #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image is a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It seems to show two people on the deck of a ship, as, in the back, you can see a man in uniform. These two men are wearing hats and warm, but elegant clothes and glasses. The one on the left, with a mustache, says to the other one, who is labelled as F.D. Roosevelt in the caption. The caption says, in French: "The Secret of Mr. Roosevelt. - Oh, Mr. Roosevelt, during your trip to Europe you took part in 400 lunches, 700 dinners, 900 events, 1,000 official galas and you shook 50,000 hands! How did you cope with all this? - Thanks to Oxygénée Cusenier, my dear! That's my secret." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire", on the 11.06.1910, p. 10.
April 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This same idea of longevity through the consumption of absinthe can also be found in this sketch from A. Bertrand, published in 1904. The description explains: "The wise men of the past did not find the Elixir of Long Life, but Oxygénée Cusenier has since been invented." #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. In the centre of the image stands a bearded man, in a black gown and glasses. Behind him are shelves with books and, apparently, alchemical instruments. Below this image, it says, in French: "The wise men of the past did not find the Elixir of Long Life, but Oxygénée Cusenier has since been invented." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire", on the 29.10.1904, p. 12.
April 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
These sketches also play with the idea that Cusenier drinkers lived very long lives. This one here shows a middle-class family paying to see a 100-year-old woman who allegedly used this money to buy her weekly bottle of "Oxygénée Cusenier"! #DrinkingStudies #Absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a family - mother, father and young son, in middle-class clothes, stand in front of an open door. On a sign next to the door is a sign, on which it says, in French: "Here you can see a hundred-year-old woman for two sous." Next to the sign is a man in mended clothes. He is leaning forward and pointing towards the door. Beneath the image, it says: "Visit to the one hundred-year-old [woman]. - You must earn a lot? - Not always!... there are weeks when it doesn't pay for a litre of Oxygénée Cusenier." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 27.07.1907, p. 10.
April 4, 2025 at 9:26 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
Not only humans were portrayed as gaining strength from Cusenier: The French artist Jacques Nam - known for his depictions of animals - showed a meeting between tiger & cat in 1909, with the tiger explaining his status/size/strength (?) through his daily consumption of absinthe! #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a drawing, black on yellowish paper. It shows a tiger, lying on the ground - in a cage? - with a white cat sitting in front of him, looking up to him. Below them, it says, in French: "The Cat. - How is it, brother, that you've profited so much? The Tiger. - Because instead of drinking milk, like you, I had to drink Cusenier Oxygen every day!" This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 02.01.1909, p. 10.
April 4, 2025 at 9:10 AM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This idea of strength through absinthe can be found regularly in these Cusenier sketches in "Le Sourire". In this one here from 1912 - by A. Bertrand - a man is about to be robbed & says: "There are only two of them... Bah! I would not fear five; I've just drunk an Oxygénée Cusenier!" #Absinthe 🗃️🍸
This image shows a drawing, black on yellowish paper. It shows a scene, outside, either in the dark or in fog. At the front is a man, with his back to us, holding a walking cane in his left hand. He is looking forward, where two men stand, somewhat threateningly, waiting for him. The sketch has the title "Health, Vigour". Below the image, it says, in French: "The Bourgeois. - There are only two of them... Bah! I would not fear five; I've just drunk an Oxygénée Cusenier!..." This sketch was published in "Le Sourire" on the 07.11.1912, p. 19.
April 3, 2025 at 2:52 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
There are some absinthe sketches that I just don't understand. This one here - by A. Bertrand from 1904 - is called "Thirst in the Sahara". In it, the "emperor of the desert" says: "My kingdom, my kingdom for a [bottle of] Oxygénée Cusenier", obviously an allusion to Richard III. #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows a desert landscape - with bones and and a cactus and birds in the sky on the top right. In the centre, there is a king - an emperor! - on his knees, wearing a crown and a cape. He is praying and looking towards the sky. The image is called "Thirst in the Sahara". This image can be found in "Le Sourire", on the 30.01.1904, p. 12.
April 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
The same artist, Paul d'Espagnat, depicted Abdul Hamid II a third time in November 1909. The leaders of Austria, Bulgaria and Greece offer him three bottles of absinthe in exchange for Bosnia, Bulgaria and Crete, to which he replies: "Three bottles of Oxygénée Cusenier! I win!" #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on yellowish paper. It shows, on the very right, the Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II. He wears a uniform, with medals and a fez, holding up both hands. To his left are three men, each of them holding up a bottle. These three men named as François-Joseph, Ferdinand and Georges, presumably Franz Joseph I of Austria, Ferdinand I of Bulgaria and George I of Greece. The image has the title "A diplomatic combination". Below the image, it says, in French: "Franz Joseph, Ferdinand and George: Commander of the Believers, this is what we offer in exchange for Bosnia, Bulgaria and Crete. Abd-ul-Hamid: Three bottles of Oxygénée Cusenier! I win!" This image was published in "Le Sourire" on the 28.11.1908, p. 10.
April 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
drninastuder.bsky.social
This one is perhaps even more astonishing. It shows a meeting between two French soldiers - one from 1908 & one from 1808. The one from 1908 tells his military ancestor that each conscript now carries a bottle of Cusenier Oxygen in their bag - "and that makes us superhuman!" #DrinkingStudies 🗃️🍸
This image shows a sketch, black on a yellowish background. It shows two French conscripts, talking to each other. The soldier on the left is from 1909, while the one on the right is from 1809. Their uniforms are very different. The one from 1809 says: “In the past, each of us had a bâton de maréchal in our bag and that made us men!” The one from 1909, who says: “Today, we're content to carry a bottle of Cusenier Oxygen in our bag... and that makes us superhuman!” This drawing was published in "Le Sourire", on the 28.08.1909, p. 9.
April 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM