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Nightlife

Photographs by Berenice Abbott, Brassaï, Bill Brandt, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Weegee

Third Floor

March 7 – April 20, 2024

Installation Views Thumbnails
Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Installation View. Photo: Olympia Shannon

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting a woman dressed as a man with a wine glass in hand sitting a white top table

Brassaï

Au Monocle, Jeune invertie (Woman Dressed as a Man at Le Monocle, Montparnasse), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 14 3/16 x 10 3/4 in. / 36.0 x 27.3 cm

sheet: 15 1/8 x 11 5/8 in. / 38.4 x 29.5 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 
 

Inquire
Black and white photographic print by Helmut Newton of a woman standing near a chain-locked door with a man outside of it

Helmut Newton

Security, New York III, 1976   
silver gelatin print 
image: 17 1/4 x 11 7/8 in. / 43.8 x 30.2 cm
sheet: 19 5/8 x 15 7/8 in. / 49.8 cm x 40.3 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Bill Brandt depicting the back of a figure with the arms of another person wrapped around their upper body in a bedroom

Bill Brandt

Soho Bedroom, 1934

silver gelatin print mounted on board

20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai of a couple at a white top table with plates, glasses and a pack of cigarettes

Brassaï

Au Monocle, un couple (Fat Claude and her Girlfriend at Le Monocle), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 13 3/4 x 10 3/8 in. / 34.9 x 26.4 cm

sheet: 15 7/8 x 11 7/8 in. / 40.3 x 30.2 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

Inquire
A black and white Bill Brandt photographic print depicting a couple kissing and a separate person across the table with a cigarette and drink

Bill Brandt

In the Public Bar at Charlie Brown's, Limehouse, c. 1942

gelatin silver print mounted on board

image: 13 1/2 x 11 3/8 in. / 34.3 x 28.9 cm

mount: 20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting a crowded room at the Magic-City drag ball

Brassaï

Le bal des Invertis au Magic-City, rue Cognac (The Magic-City drag ball, Rue Cognac), 1932 
ferrotype gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

sheet: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Bill Brandt depicting a woman leaning back in a chair

Bill Brandt

Soho Nightclub, 1942

gelatin silver print mounted on board

image: 13 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. / 34.3 x 29.2 cm

mount: 20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai of a person sitting on a toilet in a brothel with another person to their right

Brassaï

La toilette dans un hôtel de passe, rue Quincampoix (Washing up in a brothel, Rue Quincampoix), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 7 11/16 x 10 5/8 in. / 19.5 x 27 cm

sheet: 9 1/8 x 11 3/4 in. / 23.2 x 29.8 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

Inquire
Black and white photographic print of a nude woman tied to a bed and leaning in front of a chair

Helmut Newton

Hotel Room, Place de la République, Paris, 1976

silver gelatin print 
image: 17 1/4 x 12 in. / 43.8 x 30.5 cm
sheet: 19 3/4 x 16 in. / 50.2 x 40.6 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting couples dancing at the Magic-City Ball

Brassaï

Bal du Magic-City, couples (Bal du Magic-City, Couples), c. 1932
ferrotype gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

sheet: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting the introduction of multiple nude women and a clothed man at Suzy's

Brassaï

Chez ‘Suzy’, la presentation (At Suzy’s, introductions), c. 1932-1933
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 11 1/2 x 8 3/4 in. / 29.2 x 22.2 cm

sheet: 12 x 9 in. / 30.5 x 22.9 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting Bijou holding a cigarette, wearing different types of jewelry at the Bar de la Lune

Brassaï

‘Bijou’ au bar de la Lune, Montmartre (‘Bijou’, Bar de la Lune, Montmartre), 1932 
gelatin silver print on double weight paper 
image: 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. / 34.3 x 26 cm

sheet: 15 5/8 x 11 1/2 in. / 39.7 x 29.2 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Brassai of three people sitting down with glasses and the reflection of a group of people in the mirror

Brassaï

Groupe joyeux au bal musette des Quatre-Saisons (A happy group at the Bal des Quatre-Saisons), 1932

gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 3/4 x 9 in. / 29.9 x 22.9 cm

sheet: 11 3/4 x 9 in. / 29.9 x 22.9 cm

Inquire
Black and white photographic print of Patti Hansen standing nude and overlooking Manhattan from a window

Helmut Newton

Patti Hansen over Manhattan, 1977   
silver gelatin print 
image: 17 3/8 x 11 3/4 in. / 44.1 x 29.8 cm
sheet: 19 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. / 49.5 x 40 cm

Inquire
Black and white photographic print by Helmut Newton of a nude woman in bed

Helmut Newton

Berlin (nude), 1977   
silver gelatin print 
image: 11 7/8 x 17 1/4 in. / 30.2 x 43.8 cm
sheet: 15 7/8 x 19 1/2 in. / 40.3 x 49.5 cm

Inquire
A black and white photographic print by Irving Penn depicting the silhouette of Jean Patchett with a cigarette and wine glass behind a bottle

Irving Penn

Girl Behind Bottle (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949, 1978

platinum-palladium print mounted on aluminum, ed. of 33

image: 19 x 17 3/4 in. (48.3 x 45.1 cm)

mount: 25 x 20 in. (63.5 x 50.8 cm)

 

signed, stamped, inscribed

frame: 28 3/8 x 27 1/8 in. (72.1 x 68.9 cm)

A black and white Berenice Abbott photographic print of New York City at night from high up

Berenice Abbott

New York at Night, 1932

gelatin silver print

13 5/8 x 10 5/8 in. / 34.6 x 26.7 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting a woman dressed as a man with a wine glass in hand sitting a white top table

Brassaï

Au Monocle, Jeune invertie (Woman Dressed as a Man at Le Monocle, Montparnasse), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 14 3/16 x 10 3/4 in. / 36.0 x 27.3 cm

sheet: 15 1/8 x 11 5/8 in. / 38.4 x 29.5 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 
 

Black and white photographic print by Helmut Newton of a woman standing near a chain-locked door with a man outside of it

Helmut Newton

Security, New York III, 1976   
silver gelatin print 
image: 17 1/4 x 11 7/8 in. / 43.8 x 30.2 cm
sheet: 19 5/8 x 15 7/8 in. / 49.8 cm x 40.3 cm

A black and white photographic print by Bill Brandt depicting the back of a figure with the arms of another person wrapped around their upper body in a bedroom

Bill Brandt

Soho Bedroom, 1934

silver gelatin print mounted on board

20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai of a couple at a white top table with plates, glasses and a pack of cigarettes

Brassaï

Au Monocle, un couple (Fat Claude and her Girlfriend at Le Monocle), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 13 3/4 x 10 3/8 in. / 34.9 x 26.4 cm

sheet: 15 7/8 x 11 7/8 in. / 40.3 x 30.2 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

A black and white Bill Brandt photographic print depicting a couple kissing and a separate person across the table with a cigarette and drink

Bill Brandt

In the Public Bar at Charlie Brown's, Limehouse, c. 1942

gelatin silver print mounted on board

image: 13 1/2 x 11 3/8 in. / 34.3 x 28.9 cm

mount: 20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting a crowded room at the Magic-City drag ball

Brassaï

Le bal des Invertis au Magic-City, rue Cognac (The Magic-City drag ball, Rue Cognac), 1932 
ferrotype gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

sheet: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

A black and white photographic print by Bill Brandt depicting a woman leaning back in a chair

Bill Brandt

Soho Nightclub, 1942

gelatin silver print mounted on board

image: 13 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. / 34.3 x 29.2 cm

mount: 20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.6 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai of a person sitting on a toilet in a brothel with another person to their right

Brassaï

La toilette dans un hôtel de passe, rue Quincampoix (Washing up in a brothel, Rue Quincampoix), c. 1932
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 7 11/16 x 10 5/8 in. / 19.5 x 27 cm

sheet: 9 1/8 x 11 3/4 in. / 23.2 x 29.8 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

Black and white photographic print of a nude woman tied to a bed and leaning in front of a chair

Helmut Newton

Hotel Room, Place de la République, Paris, 1976

silver gelatin print 
image: 17 1/4 x 12 in. / 43.8 x 30.5 cm
sheet: 19 3/4 x 16 in. / 50.2 x 40.6 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting couples dancing at the Magic-City Ball

Brassaï

Bal du Magic-City, couples (Bal du Magic-City, Couples), c. 1932
ferrotype gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

sheet: 11 x 9 1/8 in. / 27.9 x 23.2 cm

A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting the introduction of multiple nude women and a clothed man at Suzy's

Brassaï

Chez ‘Suzy’, la presentation (At Suzy’s, introductions), c. 1932-1933
gelatin silver print on double weight paper
image: 11 1/2 x 8 3/4 in. / 29.2 x 22.2 cm

sheet: 12 x 9 in. / 30.5 x 22.9 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

A black and white photographic print by Brassai depicting Bijou holding a cigarette, wearing different types of jewelry at the Bar de la Lune

Brassaï

‘Bijou’ au bar de la Lune, Montmartre (‘Bijou’, Bar de la Lune, Montmartre), 1932 
gelatin silver print on double weight paper 
image: 13 1/2 x 10 1/4 in. / 34.3 x 26 cm

sheet: 15 5/8 x 11 1/2 in. / 39.7 x 29.2 cm 

recto: signed, lower right 

A black and white photographic print by Brassai of three people sitting down with glasses and the reflection of a group of people in the mirror

Brassaï

Groupe joyeux au bal musette des Quatre-Saisons (A happy group at the Bal des Quatre-Saisons), 1932

gelatin silver print on single weight paper

image: 11 3/4 x 9 in. / 29.9 x 22.9 cm

sheet: 11 3/4 x 9 in. / 29.9 x 22.9 cm

Black and white photographic print of Patti Hansen standing nude and overlooking Manhattan from a window

Helmut Newton

Patti Hansen over Manhattan, 1977   
silver gelatin print 
image: 17 3/8 x 11 3/4 in. / 44.1 x 29.8 cm
sheet: 19 1/2 x 15 3/4 in. / 49.5 x 40 cm

Black and white photographic print by Helmut Newton of a nude woman in bed

Helmut Newton

Berlin (nude), 1977   
silver gelatin print 
image: 11 7/8 x 17 1/4 in. / 30.2 x 43.8 cm
sheet: 15 7/8 x 19 1/2 in. / 40.3 x 49.5 cm

A black and white photographic print by Irving Penn depicting the silhouette of Jean Patchett with a cigarette and wine glass behind a bottle

Irving Penn

Girl Behind Bottle (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949, 1978

platinum-palladium print mounted on aluminum, ed. of 33

image: 19 x 17 3/4 in. (48.3 x 45.1 cm)

mount: 25 x 20 in. (63.5 x 50.8 cm)

 

signed, stamped, inscribed

frame: 28 3/8 x 27 1/8 in. (72.1 x 68.9 cm)

A black and white Berenice Abbott photographic print of New York City at night from high up

Berenice Abbott

New York at Night, 1932

gelatin silver print

13 5/8 x 10 5/8 in. / 34.6 x 26.7 cm

"Night only suggests things, it doesn't fully reveal them. Night unnerves us and surprises us with its strangeness; it frees powers within us which we were controlled by reason during the day."

- Brassaï

Nightlife - On View - Marlborough New York

Irving Penn, Girl Behind Bottle (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949, 1978

platinum-palladium print mounted on aluminum, ed. of 33

19 x 17 3/4 in. / 48.3 x 45.1 cm

© The Irving Penn Foundation

Press Release

Marlborough New York is pleased to present Nightlife, a group exhibition featuring iconic images by six of the most prominent photographers of the twentieth century whose images all celebrate the nocturnal hours of city life. Featuring works by Berenice Abbott, Brassaï, Bill Brandt, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Weegee, this exhibition unites photographs which capture underground subcultures, illicit activities, subversive fashions, and those otherwise existing on the fringes of society searching for hedonistic escapism. Ultimately, Nightlife will pay homage to the joyous freedoms experienced from dusk to dawn.

Working in Paris and London respectively, Brassaï and Bill Brandt captured the joie de vivre of night-goers in the 1930s, as the recent invention of the flashbulb allowed for the new genre to be possible. Brassaï would often walk around the city at night, carrying his camera, tripod, magnesium flash powder and a box of 24 glass plate negatives to photograph Parisian nightlife. Wandering the dimly lit streets, he captured the excessive nightlife of the demi-monde in bars and brothels, creating a unique visual topography of the city and a colorful chronicle of its subcultures. Inspired by Brassaï’s Paris de Nuit published in 1936, Brandt’s second photobook, A Night in London, chronicles the events transpired on a London evening out, oscillating between capturing a variety of social classes. Interested in shadows, Brandt often used the darkroom to alter his photographs in decisive ways, using the “day for night” technique employed by cinematographers to transform images photographed in daylight into night scenes.

New York-based photographers Berenice Abbott and Weegee employed a documentarian approach when photographing their nighttime scenes. Abbott is most notable for her book Changing New York, which documents the modern skyscrapers, harbors, highways, city squares, neighborhoods, storefronts of New York City as it swiftly evolved. On view in this exhibition will be New York at Night, one of the most iconic images featured in Changing New York which depicts an aerial view looking north on New York’s West Side. Taking a bleaker approach, legendary news photographer Weegee would listen to a police scanner radio installed in his 1938 Chevrolet in order to arrive first at crime scenes to produce gruesome, yet compassionate, photographs of murders, fires, car accidents, burglaries, and brawls.

With a penchant for eccentric trends influenced by nightlife subcultures, Helmut Newton and Irving Penn both produced fashion photography for Vogue magazine. As one of fashion’s most prolific photographers, Newton is most notable for his provocative images which draw from influences such as film noir, Expressionist cinema, S & M, and surrealism. Penn’s fashion photography exercised a more pared-down aesthetic, often staging his motifs in front of white backdrops with minimal lighting.

Nightlife celebrates a pivotal period in the history of photography, when the medium firmly established its position as an independent art form. The show also pays tribute to the critical role Marlborough played at the forefront of exhibiting photography during the 1970s and 80s. Many of the photographs on view have not been seen in decades and are from the gallery’s extensive collection. Marlborough’s program continues to highlight historical shows and artist estates alongside leading contemporary artists.

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