Eugene Atget Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Eugene Atget was born on February 12, 1857. He was a French Photographer. He was renowned as the pioneer of documentary photography. He died at the age of Seventy Years.

Early Life

Eugene Atget was born Jean-Eugene-Auguste Atget on February 12, 1857, in Libourne, France. He was born to Jean-Eugene Atget and Clara-Adeline Atget. He grew up with his maternal grandparents in Bordeaux, France. He finished his high school education. He later joined the Merchant navy. In 1878, he moved to Paris, France. He was then admitted to the acting class which he didn’t last due to expulsion from drama school. He later joined an Acting Travelling group. In 1987, he quit acting due to his ill health. He tried painting but didn’t turn out successful. He later embarked on photography.

Photography

In 1888, Eugene Atget had his first photographs which were of Amiens and Beauvais. In 1890, he became a professional photographer. In 1987, he started ‘Old Paris Collection’ which was his project. In 1898, his photographs were purchased by Musee Carnavalet and Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris. In 1899, he relocated to Montparnasse. He also engaged in some acting and lecturing.

In 1920, he started photographing parks of Versailles, Sceaux, and Versailles. His photographers impressed top personalities such as Man Roy, Henry Matisse, and Picasso. They later supported his work by purchasing the photographs. He then wrote his life work. In 1927, Atget died. His archives were donated to the Paris Institute.

In 1929, Eugene Atget's photographs were exhibited in Stuttgart at the Films and Foto Werkbund exhibition. After his death, Berenice Abbot published most of his photographs. In 1926, his photographs were published in Man Roy’s La Revolution Surrealiste. In 1968, his collections were purchased by the Museum of Modern Art.

Personal Life

Eugene Atget married Valentine Delafosse Compagnon. He died on August 4, 1927, in Paris, France. He died at Seventy years.