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Le Bal des Quatre-Saisons, rue de Lappe

Photograph
1932 (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.

Some of Brassaï’s most iconic images depict the scandalous nightlife in bars and brothels, exposing the city’s debaucherous underbelly. Scenes of prostitution, sexual interactions and nudity are not uncommon and present an almost practical view of the working women. Brassaï also frequented dance halls, depicting performers, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. Overall, the indiscriminate scope of Brassaï’s photographs present this previously unseen side of Paris alongside more traditional subject matter such as society functions and opera dancers. His ability to document a complete cross section of society provides an authentic glimpse into Parisian life in the 1930s.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleLe Bal des Quatre-Saisons, rue de Lappe (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver print
Brief description
Photograph by Brassaï, 'Le bal des Quatre-Saisons, rue de Lappe' [The Four-Seasons' dance hall, rue de Lappe], Paris, 1932, gelatin silver print
Physical description
Black and white photograph of couples dancing in a room decorated with christmas ornaments. In the back right corner of the room, a band is playing.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 23.4cm (Note: image and paper are the same size)
  • Image height: 17.6cm (Note: image and paper are the same size)
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: Top right, pencil: '50' [encircled and crossed out] Top centre, stamped in purple ink: 'BRASSAÏ / 81, RUE DU FAUBg St-JACQUES / PARIS-XIVe PORT-ROYAL 23-41' Top right, pencil: 'Page 75 [encircled] Centre, blue ink: 'Pl. 22' [underlined and encircled in red ink] Centre, stamped in black ink: 'BRASSAÏ / 81, RUE DU FAUBrg St-JACQUES / PARIS XIVe / TÉLÉPH.: PORT-ROYAL 23-41' Bottom left, pencil: 'Brassaï' Bottom right, stamped in black ink: 'SUCCESSION / BRASSAÏ / ESTATE' Bottom right, black ink: '79' [encircled]
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.

Some of Brassaï’s most iconic images depict the scandalous nightlife in bars and brothels, exposing the city’s debaucherous underbelly. Scenes of prostitution, sexual interactions and nudity are not uncommon and present an almost practical view of the working women. Brassaï also frequented dance halls, depicting performers, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. Overall, the indiscriminate scope of Brassaï’s photographs present this previously unseen side of Paris alongside more traditional subject matter such as society functions and opera dancers. His ability to document a complete cross section of society provides an authentic glimpse into Parisian life in the 1930s.
Collection
Accession number
E.916-2014

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Record createdApril 15, 2015
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