Brassaï

@Artists, Family and Life ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Brassai was a Hungarian photographer, sculptor, writer and filmmaker, known for his unique and unusual depiction of commercial and avant-garde art French Hungarian Romanian Artists Photographers Miscellaneous Virgo Celebrities Brassai was a Hungarian photographer, sculptor, writer and filmmaker. He gained recognition for his work on Paris nightlife during the 1930s. Brassai used to often wander through the dark and infamous streets and cafes of Paris, which impressed him largely and persuaded him to think about photography as a serious career, contrary to his disliking during his early years as a journalist. He became one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, thanks to his classic and dramatic street photographs taken during the deserted hours of ‘The City of Light’, either at night or during fog, a condition that was rare during that era. When most of the Hungarian artists were immigrating to Paris during the World Wars, he was one among the many who exhibited their talent and rose to international fame, initially in France and later across the globe. Apart from being a distinguished photographer, he displayed his talent as a sculptor, writer and filmmaker as well, receiving accolades in all areas. This Hungary-born French artist released his pictures in the form of two photo-books, which became masterpieces of his exceptional works. Besides, he authored a large number of books and articles in French, which were later translated and published in English.

Personal Details

Birthday: September 9, 1899 Died on: July 8, 1984 Nationality: French, Hungarian, Romanian Famous: Artists, Photographers, Miscellaneous Spouses: Gilberte Brassai Known as: Brassai, Gyula Halász, Brassaï Birth Place: Brașov Information Detail Birthday September 9, 1899 Died on July 8, 1984 Nationality French, Hungarian, Romanian Famous Artists, Photographers, Miscellaneous Spouses Gilberte Brassai Known as Brassai, Gyula Halász, Brassaï Birth Place Brașov Born Country Romania Gender Male Sun Sign Virgo Born in Brașov Famous as Photographer Died at Age 84

Brașov

Brassaï born at Unsplash Birth Place

He married French woman, Gilberte Boyer, in 1948, after which he took up French citizenship in 1949, after being stateless for many years. His wife supported him throughout his photography career, by developing negatives in the dark room and describing his subjects and personalities. Unsplash Personal Life

He passed away on July 7, 1984, in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, south of France, aged 84. He was laid to rest in Cimetiere du Montparnasse, Paris. Unsplash Personal Life

In 2000, around 450 of his works were put on display in a retrospective exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, by his widow, Gilberte. Unsplash Personal Life

Originally named Gyula Halasz, Brassai was born on September 9, 1899 in Brasso (Brasov), Transylvania, Austria-Hungary (now Romania) to Hungarian father and Armenian mother. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

His family relocated to Paris, when he was three, where his father worked as a French literature professor at the Sorbonne. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He attended the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts, Budapest, where he studied painting and sculpture, after which he served in the cavalry regiment of the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He went to Berlin in 1920 to work as a journalist for Hungarian papers – Keleti and Napkelet. During this period, he joined Berlin-Charlottenburg Academy of Fine Arts to further enhance his skills. Unsplash Career

He befriended Lajos Tihanyi, Bertalan Por and Gyorgy Boloni at the academy, who later went to Paris and gained recognition in the Hungarian art world. Unsplash Career

He traveled back to Paris in 1924 and settled there for the rest of his life, excelling in painting, sculpting, photography and journalism. Unsplash Career

He started reading books of Marcel Proust to learn the French language and became a journalist to support his living, while residing with artists at the Montparnasse Quarter. Unsplash Career

He found friends in writer Henry Miller, Leon-Paul Fargue and poet Jacques Prevert, who played a major role in shaping his career and life. Unsplash Career

He published his first book of photographs in 1933 ‘Paris de nuit’ (Paris by Night), which was considered a masterpiece unearthing the city’s hidden secrets, earning him the title ‘the eye of Paris’ by Henry Miller. Unsplash Major Works

His second book ‘Voluptes de Paris’ (Pleasures of Paris), published in 1935, brought him international acclaim. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	September 9, 1899
Died on	July 8, 1984
Nationality	French, Hungarian, Romanian
Famous	Artists, Photographers, Miscellaneous
Spouses	Gilberte Brassai
Known as	Brassai, Gyula Halász, Brassaï
Birth Place	Brașov
Born Country	Romania
Gender	Male
Sun Sign	Virgo
Born in	Brașov
Famous as	Photographer
Died at Age	84

Brassaï

French

Sep 9, 1899

Biography

Personal Details

Brașov