La bande du grand Albert

Brassaï

1931–32 · Gelatin silver print · Photographs

In his memoir, The Secret Paris of the 30s, Brassaï describes Big Albert: "A huge strapping fellow, a gang leader, surrounded by six more or less colorless lieutenants who worshipped him unreservedly and obeyed him without a scruple. This guy had three whores working for him. I accompanied them on some of their nighttime rambles. Although I succeeded in taking photographs of these toughs, one day they managed to lift my wallet, even though I had already paid them handsomely for their favors. I didn't lodge a complaint, however. Thievery for them, photographs for me." Brassaï exaggerated the menacing sense of darkness in this picture by printing the bottom third of the paper black, extending the picture beyond the edge of the negative.

Artist

Brassaï

Date

1931–32

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gilman Collection, Purchase, Gift of Ford Motor Company and John C. Waddell, by exchange, 2005