Crepuscule dans la quartier d'Italie
Photograph
c.1931 (photographed)
c.1931 (photographed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Brassaï was born in 1899 as Gyula Halász in the Transylvanian town of Brassó. He grew up in Budapest and spent the early 1920s in Berlin, training as a painter and working as a journalist. He moved to Paris in 1924, where he stayed until his death in 1984. He took up photography in Paris initially to support his written journalism, though he soon committed himself to a solely photographic practice. Brassaï is most well-known for his images of Parisian life, featuring brothels, prostitutes, city streets, architecture and high society alike. His first book, ‘Paris by Night’, was published in 1933 and established his reputation as a serious photographer.
His depictions of Paris at night present eerie streets, almost resembling a smoky ‘film-noir’ set. In their suggestions of a mysterious underworld, his photographs caught the attention of André Breton and the Surrealists, which led to a ten year association with the group; although, Brassaï was careful to never call himself a Surrealist and maintained that his photographs were objective.
His depictions of Paris at night present eerie streets, almost resembling a smoky ‘film-noir’ set. In their suggestions of a mysterious underworld, his photographs caught the attention of André Breton and the Surrealists, which led to a ten year association with the group; although, Brassaï was careful to never call himself a Surrealist and maintained that his photographs were objective.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Crepuscule dans la quartier d'Italie (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Gelatin silver print. The photograph is mounted on wooden board. |
Brief description | Photograph by Brassai, 'Crepuscule dans la quartier d'Italie' [Dusk in the Italian quarter], c.1931, printed for exhibition pre-1964, gelatin silver print mounted on wooden board |
Physical description | Black and white photograph depicting a city view at night. The photograph was taken from a high vantage point, as if from an upper-level window. There is a very well lit roof in the foreground emphasising the silhouette of a chimney. |
Dimensions |
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Styles | |
Marks and inscriptions | Verso:
Top right, red pencil: '108' [encircled]
Top centre, pencil: 'N.73'
Centre, pencil: '51.1275 / Brassaï / (15.) Crepuscule dans la quartier d'Italie'
Bottom right, stamped in black ink: 'SUCCESSION / BRASSAÏ* / ESTATE'
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Credit line | Bequest of Gilberte Boyer Brassaï |
Object history | This object came to the museum as part of a bequest of 99 photographs by Brassaï from his widow, Madame Gilberte Boyer. |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Summary | Brassaï was born in 1899 as Gyula Halász in the Transylvanian town of Brassó. He grew up in Budapest and spent the early 1920s in Berlin, training as a painter and working as a journalist. He moved to Paris in 1924, where he stayed until his death in 1984. He took up photography in Paris initially to support his written journalism, though he soon committed himself to a solely photographic practice. Brassaï is most well-known for his images of Parisian life, featuring brothels, prostitutes, city streets, architecture and high society alike. His first book, ‘Paris by Night’, was published in 1933 and established his reputation as a serious photographer. His depictions of Paris at night present eerie streets, almost resembling a smoky ‘film-noir’ set. In their suggestions of a mysterious underworld, his photographs caught the attention of André Breton and the Surrealists, which led to a ten year association with the group; although, Brassaï was careful to never call himself a Surrealist and maintained that his photographs were objective. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | E.881-2014 |
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Record created | April 15, 2015 |
Record URL |
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