Brassaï French photographer Brassaï was a Hungarian–French photographer, sculptor, medalist, writer, and filmmaker who rose to international fame in France in the 20th century. He was one of the numerous Hungarian artists who flourished in Paris beginning between the world wars. Wikipedia Born: September 9, 1899, Brașov, Romania Died: July 8, 1984, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France On view: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Period: Surrealism Full name: Gyula Halász Spouse: Gilberte Brassai (m. 1948) Education: Hungarian University of Fine Arts (1919–1920), Berlin University of the Arts
Paris Landscape
Social Settings
Lovers
LES PROSTITUTES
intimate and clandestine scenes
When Brassaï moved to Paris in 1924, where he remained for the rest of his life, he became friendly with a group of bohemians, artists, and expatriates. Inspired by the work of fellow Hungarian André Kertész, he began to explore Paris with his camera in 1929. Brassaï became legendary for his exotic nocturnal views of the city and its residents. Henry Miller, notorious for his racy and groundbreaking prose, arrived in Paris in 1930, and shared Brassaï’s passion for the street life of the city.
books by Brassaï’ including Paris de Nuit (1933) and Voluptés de Paris (1935)
. In 1975, Brassaï published the biography Henry Miller: The Paris Years, about their years in the City of Light.
Brassaï (1899-1984) was born Gyula Halász in Brassó, Transylvania (then part of Hungary, later Romania). He was trained as an artist and after emigrating to Paris, worked as a journalist. Initially taking photographs to accompany his articles, he became enchanted with the medium.
At the time of his death in 1984, Brassaï had published 17 books and hundreds of articles, and had exhibited his photographs, sculpture, and drawings. His film Tant qu’il aura des betes (1955) won the prize for Most Original Film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956.
“I was seeking the poetry of the fog which transforms people, the poetry of the night which transforms the city, the poetry of time which transforms all beings”, he would say years later.
In his 1934 novel Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller described his Parisian adventures and meanderings with the photographer, calling him “the eye of Paris”, writing “Brassaï is a living eye… his gaze pierces straight to the heart of truths in everything.”
Picasso nicknamed Brassaï “The Terrorist” because of the explosions caused by the flash powder, which were extremely loud and bright and gave his pictures their characteristic lighting.
BOOKS
Brassaï: For the Love of Paris,
He compiled his first collection of photographs in 1933, in a book called Paris la Nuit,
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