Atget Paris

by Laure Beaumont-Maillet

This book brings together 840 of Atget's images of Paris -- the most prolific collection of his work ever published. Day in, day out Atget trudged the streets of Paris recording a face that was constantly changing. His images show the buildings, alleyways, court-yards, balconies, cafes, vehicles, shop windows and goods on display -- all in perfect detail. Although hailed by the surrealists for the poetic quality of his images, Atget refused to accept that he was an artist, claiming that the pictures he took were simply documents. He has become known as the first modern photographer. The shape of this book, which is that of a Parisian cobblestone, is in itself a tribute to Atget the legendary walker.

Genres: Photography, Art and Photography, Art, Urbanism, France

788 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ray LaManna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book off my shelf as I was watching the terrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral...it's my homage to a great city. There are over 700 b/w pictures of "Old Paris" taken by Atget between 1898-1924.

Don't worry...Paris will survive!

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest this is the Paris in my head. I live totally in the past, yet the past actually exists in certain areas of Paris.

[Dylan Kiewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the cooler things period i've found in recent times, a fatass collection of photographs by a mister eugene atget taken all over paris around the turn of the century. there's just nothing like it. TIME MACHINE shit. atget would be coopted a bit by the surrealists but he always insisted he was a mere humble craftsmen. mostly his pictures were used by painters as references or its for various commercial purposes or he just wanted it but its never really part of a grand artistic project. he took like thousands and thousands for like 30 years or something going out at dawn with his big kit snapping away. the photos are mostly devoid of people for this reason, got that great early light, a lot of buildings fade off into the light beautifully, people are often ghost looking when they do show up. and you see what it looked like back then which is just...take me back.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every arrondissement of Paris photographed, c. 1880-1910. Because Atget shot many of these photos for art students to use as reference works or practice models, he tended to photograph in the early morning, before many people were up and working. As a result, he focuses mainly on the settings rather than teeming streets of a major city. I think this book would make an interesting companion to Simenon's novels, which occur in various of Paris's arrondissements, to get a feel for the atmosphere of the settings.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really was only able to flip through this book, but since it's primarily photographs without much text, that was alright. I really enjoyed it & I think I'll try to return to it again sometime.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome Christmas present from my true love one year along with a few other books and some photographic equipment. (Really, so perfect! You'd do well to emulate him if you also love a photographer.) Here are more different images by the great pioneer French photographer than I have ever seen in one place -- and now I own them! Inside one cover! So wonderful; it is the sort of possession which makes me feel rich, and the sort of gift which makes me feel loved and understood.

Caveat: After receiving this gift, I was lost to my true love for the rest of that Christmas Day while I gulped down the entire volume in one sitting, and then kept going over and over it. Now it sits on a small table next to the big squishy chair in my studio where I dip into it from time to time to drool and dream.

Really, a brilliant gift.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being one of the most thorough collections of this master's oeuvre available in a single volume, this book is unfortunately marred by a poor printing quality unsuited for its contents—rather than transporting the viewer to the streets and countryside of vieux Paris, it frustratingly only hints at the timelessness of Atget's photography. For a more fulfilling experience, consult the work of John Szarkowski instead.

[Joelle Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been in love with Paris since I was a child. I got this book many years ago and find myself browsing its pages, trying to envision the world the way it was when Atget captured it. I used this book also when writing my novel "Reflections." Even though my book takes place in the early 18th century, Atget's photos helped me envision many of the places I mentioned in my own book.

[Elizabeth Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as research for my novel, My Phantom: The Memoir of Christine Daaé. Atget's wonderful photographs really helped me see Christine's Paris.