The Secret Paris of the 30's

by Brassaï

One of the most evocative photographic memoirs every published. It was known that Brassai had taken a series of 'secret photographs' which could not be published because of their daring nature - the forbidden Paris, a sordid bas-monde where high society mingled with the underworld.

Genres: Photography, Art, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Art History, France

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

George Brassaï (pseudonym of Gyula Halász) (9 September 1899 — 8 July 1984) was a Hungarian photographer, sculptor, and filmmaker who rose to international fame in France in the 20th century. He was one of the numerous Hungarian artists who flourished in Paris beginning between the World Wars. In the early 21st century, the discovery of more than 200 letters and hundreds of drawings and other items from the period 1940–1984 has provided scholars with material for understanding his later life and career.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to the opening of Brassai's show at the Marlborough Gallery in New York in 1976. Brassai was there, standing in the middle of a circle of admirers, including a critic from the New York Times and the director of the Metropolitan Museum. As it happens, no one was looking at the photographs on the wall except me, a scruffy hippie kid. Brassai broke away from the circle of admirers. He came and stood next to me and said "Do you like the photograph?" I said, "Yes!" He said, "Je suis Brassai." I said, "I know!" I told him I had a show of photos at the Stieglitz gallery downtown called Shameless. I told him one of the photos in my show was an homage to his portrait of Miss Diamonds aka "Bijou." He invited me to come to lunch with him.

It was one of the most inspiring episodes in my life. I was moved that a man at the peak of his career would take the time to encourage an unknown kid. He autographed my copy of this book. I gave him a copy of my photo: "Bijou of Andy's Donuts" which was shot at a donut shop in the Castro in 1975.

His photographs are exquisite, shot on location in Paris. He works with modified ambient light under difficult circumstances. He captures a range of moments from the dramatic to the charming, in beautifully atmospheric light. His compositions are flawless. His black and white prints are magnificent (not really adequately rendered in the book.)

He told me that photographs age like fine wine. He said I should bring my photographs of San Francisco in the 70's out in 30 or 40 years, and they would be even more admired. I plan to do that around 2015.

[Bloodorange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elucidating and wonderfully written; apparently Brassaï was a master storyteller in words as well as images.

Found on archive.org

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swooning in the haze that was Paris in the 1930s, indulgences of darkness and night begin with dancing and as dawn lights the day, the activities swirl into a mist floating above the city.

What a fortunate record Brassai has given us to daydream about before the next war broke upon the world and swept so much away. This is as close to time travel as I have ever experienced.

[Sarah Wizemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hunted this out-of-print book down after months of searching, only to see it reprinted a year later. A must-have for fans of Henry Miller, this collection of photos from Parisian brothels and streetscapes reveals a world of decadence and sin that seems relatively tame by contrast with today's overt sexual imagery.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

His photography is like you are standing there seeing the people and places. Old B&W at night, it is alive and real.

I have never been to Paris, but the history of it at night is fascinating--that alone is worth the book.

I am a street photographer by inclination, and had not looked at Brassai's work before. I can see where Kertez and Cartier-Bresson got inspiration from him.

Recommended for even non-photographers...

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brassai's gorgeous photos of the night cafes, brothels, street whores, gay nightclubs, and Beaux-arts balls of 1930s Paris are accompanied by his personal anecdotes about his subjects. His easy, conversational style makes me nostalgic for a time and place I've never been. It's a stunning book, one I've come to again and again for inspiration.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out for Brassai's beautiful black and white, documentary style photographs, but was surprised at how interesting and well-written the text was. It's fascinating to read about the underworld of Paris in 30's, especially through Brassai's simple, affectionate anecdotes.

[Carol Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Lovers at the Chameleon Club”, a novel of historical fiction that I recently finished, was partly inspired by a famous photograph of a lesbian couple in a Paris nightclub. That photograph appears in this photographic memoir. In fact, Gyula Brassai, the photographer and author of “The Secret Paris”, is a main character in “Chameleon”. I sought out this book of photography out of curiosity about this famous photo. But I found all the photographs and commentary in “The Secret Paris” to be fascinating.

The book is made up of short sections, each one describing a person, place, or event of the Parisian demi-monde of the 1930’s. In the first section, Brassai talks a concierge into allowing him to climb to the top of Notre Dame at night, something not usually allowed. His photographs show stunning views from the top, where he finds a dead pigeon, still warm.

Some of my favorite sections: “The Human Gorilla”, a German carnival performer put out of work by the Nazi’s because his papers were “out of order”; “A Night with the Cesspool Cleaners”, men who eat their lunch at 4 am without washing their hands; “Kiki of Montparnasse”, a free-living, but ultimately tragic figure. Brassai describes notorious sections of Paris, some noted for brothels, some for nightclubs. He visits an opium den in an exclusive part of the city.

As revealed in “Chameleon”, Brassai was often accompanied in his nocturnal roamings around Paris by the author Henry Miller. He also interacted at times with Picasso. Both make small, but delightful, appearances in Brassai’s commentary. There is a section devoted to the now defunct public urinals of the city; Miller was a fan.

It’s not hard to see why Brassai and his world became one of the inspirations for “Lovers at the Chameleon Club”. This is life lived as adventure in a unique time and place in history.

[Josiah Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deserves 6 stars. An experience to read, and I highly recommend pairing it with “City of Night” by John Rechy- a concoction I can’t quite take credit for as both books are mentioned in conjunction in “Please Kill Me: an Oral History of Punk Rock.” Brassai is like an Kodakian Owl, a nocturnal voyeur deserving of the highest praise.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There are many similarities between what we call the ‘underworld’ and the ‘fashionable world.’ Entry into both these exclusive societies, made up primarily of the idle, is not easy. Each has its regulations, its customs and usages, its moral code, its affairs of honor, whether its members settle them with sabers, pistols, or knives”

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, an excellent book, more interesting than a hundred others. Not to be an Orientalist of France, but it really is very fun to read, and you don't mind in the least. Also, every other good book of Brassai photography is expensive.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not an art or photography expert by any means, but this book was wholly great. Did I appreciate the historical snippets and stories more than the photos? Probably, but that does not make the photos any less fantastic. They, along with the corresponding paragraphs, reveal a Paris that is full of life, secrets (shockingly :p), and social behaviours unique to each group. The artist comes through as a bit of a personal hero for me; he judges no one, no choices, no mistakes. He observes and documents, never interferes or passes judgement.

I would say this is a must for anyone who has an interest in, photography, France, Paris, history, the inter war years, subcultures, fringe societies, or just entertaining episodes in the artist's life.

Everyone should own this book.

[Lilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating walk through various Parisian underworlds - the bordellos and opium dens and Folies-Bergere are to be expected, but I love how the cesspool cleaners and the sans domicile fixe are included for a truly complete portrait, people who aren't as glamorous but a definite part of the nightscape. It's accompanied by Brassai talking about coming into these places and how he was welcomed - or threatened, or ripped off - by his intended subjects, and he's warm rather than sensationalistic in recounting the backdrops and etiquettes and biographical sketches of the local characters. Seediness recast as some kind of wonderous dream - lovely.

[Seamus Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would love to find a higher quality edition (assuming one exists) with clearer prints -- the original images are murky and atmospheric as it is. That said these are phenomenal photographs; essential (even definitive) images of Paris in the '30s. Iconic photos of an iconic time and place. Brassai's essays on various aspects of Paris are also wonderful. I particularly enjoyed his accounts of the Ancient Guild of Cesspool Cleaners, the argot of the criminal underworld (police were given the names of birds: partridges=criminal investigators; swallows=police on bicycles, etc), and Le Monocle "one of the first temples of Sapphic love" where all the female staff dressed as men.

[Kevin Keast · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is full of old-timey photos of...you guessed it, Paris in the 30s. All the photos are taken by night, which was a new use of technology at the time The book could have used less words and more photos, the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars. If you find old photos of real people fascinating, check it out!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The photos are iconic, having grown up with many of the images or the lovers kissing in a cafe, but there are so many layers to Brassai and the lives he fell in love with. I love how he announces early in the book, I was only arrested three times. There are so many moving stories, every perspective is fleeting and yet he's compassionate to every subject.

[Mark Flack · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love photography from the first half of the 20th century, such as Weegee and co, then make a beeline for this book. As Paris is my favourite city anyway, taking the trip back in time to Brassai's city is a real treat.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would go well with the Perversity book!

[Jacksoncutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

shhhhh i have artwanker parents and i grew up running my grubby fingers over brassai's photos of old old butches in suits dancing together all dignified like.

[Eryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative, informative, some of the stories are marvellous, and the photographs are both wonderful and, at times, slightly disturbing.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brassai's black and white photographs of a bygone era are mostly a delight; his meandering essays, with their attendant retrograde racial and sexual attitudes, far less so.

[Jenica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning black and white photos!

[Scooter Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been obsessed with this book since first seeing it in the 80s.