Nocturnal Scene, Brassaï, c. 1938
gelatin silver print, h 285mm × w 216mm
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© Réunion des Musées Nationaux (RMN)
Brassaï is the photographer of Paris at night. In 1932 he published the photo book Paris de nuit, which inspired numerous photographers to explore the night. Many of Brassaï’s photographs are steeped in a romantic, nostalgic atmosphere: shadows, gas lighting, and nightlife play an important role in them. By contrast, this photograph of an empty lot with a strikingly illuminated façade at the right is a bit spectral and surreal.