Brassaï

Executed in 1932.

Private Collection, Japan

This work is in very good condition overall. The sheet is hinged to the mat via 4 corner pockets. There are minor signs of handling along the edges of the print as well as slight undulation. There is a 6cm crease at the upper right corner visible under raking light. Framed under Plexiglas.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Brassai belonged to the milieu of interwar emigre artists in Paris. He began shooting photographs of Parisian night life in the early 1930s, with a focus on questionable members of society, such as prostitutes, criminals, and street cleaners. Brassai captures the idiosyncrasies of this sector of Paris, its pride amidst the shame of its trade, privacy strewn all over broad streetlight. Picasso and the writer Henry Miller named him the “eye of Paris”, given his keen pulse on nocturnal Paris. Although he was preoccupied by the spontaneous people of the night, his photography was strictly premeditated, as he fixed the scenes and the positions of his models. Technically, shooting photographs at night had its difficulties—but Brassai overcame problems by avoiding the direct glow of street light, finding infrastructure (building, walls, and the like) to hide amidst.