Carnaval time! The Loch Ness Monster in Aix-en-Provence

 

Publisher: Henri Fly, Aix-en-Provence
Series: Aix-en-Provence Carnaval XXXXI
Catalogue: N/A
Type: Lithograph
Date of Issue: April 1934
Artist: Henry Fly
Usage: Unused

By the summer of 1934 news of the Loch Ness Monster was everywhere in Europe, causing a sensation across languages and cultures.  Across Europe and the world, Nessie soon appeared in effigy at spring and summer carnivals and celebrations.

One of several that appeared in postcard form was the above example, from the spring Carnaval of Aix-en-Provence in France.  Known as Carnaval d'Aix, the festival is held in Aix every April to celebrate the arrival of spring. Each year there is a parade, during which marchers and decorated floats promenade down the famous Cours Mirabeau. In recent years the parade has focussed on particular themes, but in the 1930s it was something of a free-for-all.

During the parade, "Le Monstre du Lock Ness" -the misspelling of Loch being a common error in foreign climes- was accompanied by several faux-Scotsmen, dressed in tartan garb. They appear to be doing a jig or something in the postcard above.  Interestingly, the design of the float is rather plainly modelled on a triceratops dinosaur. As such, it can be seen as influenced by the "Nessie-as-dinosaur" hypothesis, or Nessie as a prehistoric survival, which was popular at this time.  

The card was produced by a local firm, Henry Fly (or Henri Fly), an award-winning photographer who produced a series of cars depicting the floats of that year. In addition to the example shown above, Fly also produced an additional card depicting the float. The different position of the lower jaw in this image suggests that the mouth of the Monster opened and closed as the float moved along.       

One curiosity in these images is the number prominently displayed on the Monster's frill, namely "EX=522±p". The precise meaning of this equation escapes me. It may be some kind of designation for the float itself, but other floats in that year's Carnaval do not display similar numbers prominently. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know!