Born in Callao, Peru, Reutlinger became a photographer like his uncle and his father.

Soon he also took fashion and advertising photos[2] and photographed stars of the entertainment venues like the Moulin Rouge and the Folies Bergère.

Especially the business with pictures in postcard format, which were often clearly influenced by Art Nouveau, was successful.

He recorded among others Mata Hari, Cléo de Mérode, Sarah Bernhardt, Léonie Yahne, Anna Held and Lina Cavalieri.

In 1930, Reutlinger suffered an accident with a champagne cork, which cost him an eye and seriously affected his profession.