Diana nue, statue aux Tuileries
Photograph
1931 (photographed)
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 | Diana nue, statue aux Tuileries (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Gelatin silver print mounted to wooden board |
Brief description | Photograph by Brassaï, 'Diana nue, statue aux Tuileries' [Nude Diana, statue at Tuileries], 1931. Printed for exhibition pre-1964, gelatin silver print mounted on wooden board. |
Physical description | Black and white photograph depicting a statue of a nude female figure with a cloth belted over her modesty and a dog sitting to her right hand side. She wears a headband and a strap over her body. Branches of a tree are visible descending down behind her, but we are unable to see the tree trunk or any major branches. |
Dimensions |
|
Styles | |
Marks and inscriptions | Verso:
Top right, pencil: 'N-160'
Bottom centre, stamped in black ink: '© SUCCESSION BRASSAÏ ESTATE'
Bottom centre, stamped in black ink: 'SUCCESSION / BRASSAÏ / ESTATE' |
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. |
Subject 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. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.907-2014 |
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Record created | April 15, 2015 |
Record URL |
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