Eugène Atget: New exhibition of the pioneer of documentary photography | Getty Center
Written by Oman Morí
Copy Edited by Melis Ozdemir
For 25 years, the Solomon couple, art and photography collectors, embarked on a quest to assemble the extensive body of work by one of the foremost pioneers of the art form, Eugène Atget (1857-1927). Their dedication has culminated with the acquisition of the collection by the Getty Center in Los Angeles. A meticulously curated selection of Atget's photographs is now on exhibit for the first time, offering visitors a glimpse into the soul of Paris in the late 19th century. The museum representatives stated in their press release that the Getty now has one of the finest holdings of works by Eugène Atget in the country, allowing them to showcase his work and its continued influence on photographers today.
Eugène Atget, considered one of the pioneers of documentary photography, dedicated himself to capturing various aspects of Parisian life before modernity. He perceived the camera not merely as a tool but as a vessel capable of suspending time and immortalizing the world. Atget took over 10,000 photographs, always armed with a boxy wooden camera housing 5 x 7-inch glass negatives. He systematically captured the essence of the city - its enigmatic streets, medieval passageways, haunting mannequins adorning storefronts, and the laborers of professions long vanished. Throughout the process, he masterfully created a tapestry of Parisian life infused with a deep sense of poetry and nostalgia.
Atget's lens went beyond the crowded tourist landmarks and monuments, exploring the pulse of everyday life and the overlooked individuals who lived it. His photographs bring to life the forgotten personalities and the hidden aspects of a city overflowing with stories. He looked at himself as a documentarian and created a life by selling his pictures to museums and painters who wanted to have visual source material.
However, Atget's artistry received recognition later on when personalities such as Berenice Abbott and Man Ray praised his evocative images, seeing hints of surrealism in them. Abbott, who had previously worked as Man Ray's assistant in his Paris studio, discovered Atget's works and was inspired to become a photographer. She worked to preserve his legacy and brought a substantial collection of his work to New York, where it caught the attention of fine art photographers. Ansel Adams was among those who appreciated Atget's prints, describing them as "direct and emotionally clean records of a rare and subtle perception, which perhaps represent the earliest expression of true photographic art."
Eugène Atget: Highlights from the Mary & Dan Solomon Collection will be up through November 5, 2023, in the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
