Photo-Club de Paris president Maurice Bucquet comments on this Puyo photograph (as well as others) published in the journal: Le Monde Moderne in 1897. A halftone photograph showing a woman who has fallen asleep with her hand resting on a book appears on page 281.
“M. C. Puyo s’est acquis une réputation méritée pour l’emploi judicieux qu’il sait faire de la lumiére du jour combiné à celle du magnésium; Sommeil est un heureux exemple de son habileté: les demi-teintes sont adroitement ménagées entre la vive lumière projetée par la lampe et l’ombre environnante.” 1.
Translation: Mr. Constant Puyo has acquired a deserved reputation for his judicious employment (in making a photograph) for using existing daylight and magnesium (artificial flash light using magnesium flash powder) : This photograph titled “Sleep” is a happy example of his skill; the half-tones are skillfully spared (meaning holding detail) between the sharp light projected by the lamp and the surrounding shade.
1. “L’Art Photographique” Le Monde Moderne: Tome V: Janvier-Juin 1897: Paris: Albert Quantin, Éditeur.
note: a period halftone has been substituted here for the original portfolio plate, which has gone missing.