Jean-Eugène-Auguste Atget

Jean-Eugène-Auguste Atget was a figure active in the field of photography during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with his known professional activity centered between 1895 and 1901. His output focused largely on documentary and topographical subjects, capturing the details of street life and specific locales.

Fifteen of his photographs are currently represented in museum collections. These works include specific studies of French subjects, such as Olivier, Nice (Olive Tree, Nice), as well as street scenes like Joueur d’orgue (Organ Player), Marchand abat-jours, and Marchand du Panier. These photographs serve as high-quality prints documenting a transitional period of urban and provincial environments.

A portion of Jean-Eugène-Auguste Atget prints are held in major American institutions, establishing his significance as a historical documentarian. The Art Institute of Chicago maintains a notable collection of his work. Due to the age of his photography, much of Atget’s output is now considered part of the public domain, facilitating access to downloadable artwork for researchers and enthusiasts worldwide. His surviving works are highly regarded for their museum-quality preservation and objective recording style.