Louis Malteste
~ 1862 – 1928
Louis Malteste, born Jules Malteste in Chartres, France, was a versatile French illustrator, painter, engraver, lithographer, and writer active in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Renowned for his contributions to satirical publications and fine art, Malteste exhibited at prestigious venues, including the Salon des Cents in 1897 and the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1902.
His mainstream work appeared in prominent magazines such as L’Assiette au Beurre and Le Chat Noir, featuring caricatures, social commentary, and elegant lithographs like Marchande de Lacets (1897), which depicted everyday Parisian life with striking chiaroscuro and modern style.
Under pseudonyms such as Jacques d’Icy, Malteste also produced a significant body of erotic and spanking art, particularly from the 1910s to 1920s. These works, often illustrating French spanking novels for publishers like Collection des Orties Blanches, explored themes of discipline and fetishism, primarily in M/F and F/F scenarios. Notable titles include Miss Cravache ou les Vierges esclaves (1910) and Dressage (1930), where his detailed and expressive style captured the era’s fascination with erotic power dynamics. Malteste’s ability to blend technical skill with provocative subject matter made him a key figure in vintage BDSM art, though his erotic works were often published anonymously or under pseudonyms to maintain his reputation in mainstream circles.
Malteste’s legacy spans the intersection of fine art and subcultural illustration, reflecting the cultural complexities of Belle Époque and interwar Paris. He passed away in Paris in 1928.
Books illustrated by Malteste and featured in gallery below.
- The Memoirs of Dolly Morton (1899)
- Baby douce fille (1910/1933)
- Aventures amoureuses de Mlle de Sommerange (1910)
- Miss (1912)
- Quinze Ans (1912/1922)
- Qui Aime Bien (1916)
- Qui Aime Bien (no known date)
- Chatie Bien (1916)
- Dolly Morton (1917)
- Monsieur Paulette (1921)
- Paulette Trahie (1922)
- Fifi L'Arpète (1922)
- Suzanne Écuyère (1923)
- La Pécheresse passionné (1926)
- Brassee de Faits (1926)
- Les Mains Cheries (1927)
- Lise (1928)
- Edith Preceptrice (1930)
18 albums/208 artworks
Latest Update: May 14, 2026 > Updated Brassee de Faits (12 artworks)
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