Thursday, October 30, 2008

Eugene Atget's Paris In The 1920's

Paris Street Scene


Prostitute, Paris




Cafe, Paris, 1924 6AM




Eugene Atget (1857-1927) was one of the most artistic photographers of Paris in the early years of the 1900's. He was also a skilled technician of the craft.
He was orphaned when he was seven years old and went to sea as a cabin boy on the Transatlantic. He gave up the sea after several voyages across the Atlantic and became an actor, where he performed in mostly second-rate shows in secondary roles.
He knew that he could make a living with a camera selling scenes to artists who needed a fixed image to study as they painted. He sold his work to the artists of Montparnasse.
He was a bohemian at heart and he moved to Montparnasse to live in the "art colony" there. He was a neighbor of Man Ray, and a contemporary of Matisse, and Picasso.
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13 comments:

Kate said...

Love being the first to post after your long "sabbatical" and want you to know that you have been missed by me and many of your fans! The artist is wonderful, yes! Thanks for the biographical information.

Shionge said...

Is it because life is so simple back then that there is so many artists as compared to now?

I'm fine Paul, be off to Hanoi this Saturday and hope to open up my blog soon :D

Anonymous said...

So glad you're back, love these old photos, they capture the time so perfectly just in their simplicity!

Anonymous said...

Great post. Thanks.

Nikon said...

Hello Kate, Shionge, Marc, and Anon!
Thanks for the comments and being loyal fans of the blog!

kayellen said...

Wonderful to see a new post Paul:)
Always a pleasure to stop by!

Happy Halloween!
Smiles,
kayellen

Lo Kelween said...

prostitutes in those days dressed so..'decently'? or maybe it's because of the weather? thanks for sharing!!

long time no see, Paul! ;)

Nikon said...

And just how do you know so much about how prostitutes dress, Elwin :)

Tamara Reynolds said...

Love his photographs. They are so sad and lonely.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

enjoyed the post, Paul.

Anonymous said...

lol,so nice

Anonymous said...

Good Blog, I think I want to find me, I will tell my other friends, on all

Anonymous said...
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