Brassai (Gyula Halasz) Chez Suzy, En Attendant Le Client, 1932, Silver gelatin photograph

Brassaï’s Secret Paris

Brassaï is best known for his iconic photographs of Paris in the 1930s, capturing the city’s nightlife, streets, and inhabitants in a way that has left a lasting impact on the history of photography. His work has greatly contributed to the idea of vernacular photography, blurring the lines between street photography and fine art.

Richard Avedon, Janis Joplin, New York City, August 28, 1969, Silver gelatin photograph

Richard Avedon’s Janis Joplin, New York City, August 28, 1969

Among Richard Avedon’s many portraits, one of the most compelling is his 1969 image of Janis Joplin, taken on August 28 at his New York studio. In the frame, Joplin leans slightly toward the camera, hair loose at her shoulders, rings catching the light as her hands lift into relaxed, almost joking fists. The smile reads genuine but not unguarded; the eyes do most of the work. Avedon’s plain backdrop removes context so gesture and micro-expression carry the meaning.