Robert Doisneau—Paris: Les Halles Market

(Paris: Flammarion, 2011)

I translated Vladmir Vasak's essay on Robert Doisneau's photographs of the transformation of Paris's legendary Les Halles market.

Press release:

Doisneau’s photographs evoke nostalgia for the days when the now vanished Les Halles market, "the belly of Paris," sprawled across the center of the city. From fur-clad socialites to burly market porters, Doisneau captured the essence of every brand of Parisian character and the poetry in ordinary scenes: a cheery fruit seller bellowing from behind a pyramid of oranges, a fish vendor haggling over the price of the daily catch, or a mountain of floral bouquets ready to grace Parisian dinner tables. This volume exhibits some of Doisneau’s lesser-known yet extraordinary works, including six rare color photographs. Publication coincides with the ongoing long-awaited redevelopment of this Parisian hub.