Ed van der Elsken
1925–1990
Biography
Ed(uard) van der Elsken (Dutch, 1925-1990) studied sculpture in Amsterdam before turning to photography in 1946. In 1950 he began working as a freelance photographer in Paris for Dutch magazines, photographing primarily Left-Bank youth culture and the bohemian scene. His works were exhibited in the exhibitions subjektive fotografie 2 (1954) and Family of Man (1955), among others. In 1956 he published his first book Love on the Left Bank. He traveled to Africa, Asia, the US, and Mexico to shoot stories and began making social critical and above all personal documentaries in 1960. His last film, Bye (1989–90), documents his own illness with cancer. In 2019 the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam and Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam jointly acquired van der Elskens' artistic estate.
Exhibitions
Press
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Mahlstrom der Bilder
Nov 11, 2017
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Le Figaro: Paris Photo, l'aboratoire d'images
Nov 10, 2017
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Der Tagesspiegel: Die Halbstarken
Dec 04, 2010
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Der Tagesspiegel: Schöne der Nacht
Apr 08, 2006
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tip: Die Arbeit, eine Frau zu sein
Mar 23, 2006
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Die Welt: Licht und Schatten
Feb 05, 2006
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artery Berlin: Kicken Berlin
Jan 01, 2001