Ernest Joseph Bellocq
Storyville Portraits
MoMa, New York, USA, 1970
Lee Friedlander, John Szarkowski
pages 96
first edition
dimensions 28.3 × 24.3 cm, hardcover with jacket
language English
ISBN 978-0870702501
pages 96
first edition
dimensions 28.3 × 24.3 cm, hardcover with jacket
language English
ISBN 978-0870702501
ARTISTS
Ernest Joseph Bellocq
Bellocq was born into a wealthy family of French créole origins[2] in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He became known locally as an amateur photographer before setting himself up as a professional, making his living mostly by taking photographic records of landmarks and of ships and machinery for local companies.[3] However, he also took personal photographs of the hidden side of local life, notably the opium dens in Chinatown[4] and the prostitutes of Storyville.[5] These were only known to a small number of his acquaintances. He had been something of a dandy in his early days, while he lived alone in the latter part of his life and acquired a reputation for eccentricity and unfriendliness. According to acquaintances from that period, he showed little interest in anything other than photography.
Bellocq was born into a wealthy family of French créole origins[2] in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He became known locally as an amateur photographer before setting himself up as a professional, making his living mostly by taking photographic records of landmarks and of ships and machinery for local companies.[3] However, he also took personal photographs of the hidden side of local life, notably the opium dens in Chinatown[4] and the prostitutes of Storyville.[5] These were only known to a small number of his acquaintances. He had been something of a dandy in his early days, while he lived alone in the latter part of his life and acquired a reputation for eccentricity and unfriendliness. According to acquaintances from that period, he showed little interest in anything other than photography.