Brassaï
Lovers in a Small Café near the Place d’Italie
1931-1978
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Brassaï
Lovers in a Small Café near the Place d’Italie
1931-1978
Physical Qualities
Gelatin silver print, Sheet: 294 x 233 mm. (11 9/16 x 9 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase with exchange funds from the Edward Joseph Gallagher III Memorial Collection; and partial gift of George H. Dalsheimer, Baltimore
Object Number
1988.237
Not long after Brassaï moved to Paris in 1924, he became fascinated by the city’s nightly transformation under the glow of artificial illumination. By the 1930s, Brassaï was celebrated for his photographs of Parisian night-life published in the books Paris de Nuit (Paris at Night, 1933) and Voluptés de Paris (Pleasures of Paris, 1934). In the latter publication, Brassaï explored the demimonde of the city, including bordellos, street fairs, circuses, and other places of entertainment. His compositions—encountered or staged—were expressions of his experiences of walking the streets after dark and were informed as well by contemporary cinema.
Looking through the Lens: Photography 1900-1960
Mike Weaver, editor, The Art of Photography, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989, pl. 284 Weston J. Naef, Counterparts: Form and Emotion in Photographs, New York: MMA, 1982, ill. p. 113. Colin L. Westerbeck, Jr., 'Night Light: Brassai and Weegee', Artforum, XV/4 (Dec. 76), New York: Artforum, 1976, ill. p. 40. Rosalind Krauss, 'Nightwalkers', Art Journal LVI/1 (Spring 81), New York: College Art Association, 1981, pp. 38-39, ill. p. 34. Photographs, Sotheby's, Los Angeles, February 16 & 17, 1982, lot 63. 19th and 20th Century Photographs, Christie's East, May 13, 1986, lot 55. UNVERIFIED
Inscribed: upper right verso in graphite: "Pafe 71"; lower left verso in graphite: "Brassai / PL.78 / pafe 71"; lower left verso stamped in purple ink: "COPYRIGHT by / BRASSAI / 81, Faubourg St. Jacques / PARIS 14eme Tél. 707.23.41 / INTERDICTION DE REPRODUIRE / SANS AUTORISATION DE L'AUTEUR / PHOTOGRAPHIE ORIGINALE / Tirage de l'Auteur'"
