Welcome to this space, which is set aside for other Artists. Expect to see frequent change overs, the scene is set for a variety of artists to be featured here. Be they; old, new, well-known or obscure. This space will not be limited only to photographers, but will include other medias.

BRASSAI

(1899-1984)

Brassai became famous for his documentation of night time Paris during the 1920-30s.

He came to photography late, as life at the beginning of the 20th century was anything but straightforward. During the First World War, he was a cavalryman in the Austro-Hungarian army. Afterwards, he trained as an artist and by 1924, had moved on to Paris. There he became a newspaper reporter, and occasionally illustrated his articles with his own photographs.

Brassai was inspired by the atmospheric night time photography of Kertesz’s. The nocturnal Brassai, was able to create a unique document of Parisian nightlife that inhabited the bars, clubs and bordellos of the Montparnasse area, “They belong to the world of pleasure, of love, vice, crime, drugs”. He became a familiar sight in the area photographing workers, dancers, musicians, pimps, gentlemen of leisure and ladies of pleasure.

In 1935, his second night time book was published, entitled ‘Voluptés de Paris’ ("Pleasures of Paris"). Its scandalous subject matter caused a stir. However, it was not until 1976 when a more complete version (‘The Secret Paris of the 30's’) was published, that one could fully appreciate the body of work, which he had produced.

For further information, click on either or both of the following links: Biographical Notes. Please note that this link is only a starting point in to the life of this artist.

Online: June 2004