Vali in the mirror with starlets, Paris, 1952
silver gelatin print, analogue barite print on Ilford neutral tone paper
Paper: 40 x 30 cm
Edition of 20
Exhibitions
2014 Love on the Left Eye, Ed van der Elsken Archives 2008, Dutch Eyes, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam, NLLiterature
Visser, Hripsime, Ed van der Elsken 55. New York: Phaidon Press, 2002.Elsken, van der, Ed. LOVE ON THE LEFT BANK. (Fascimile Edition). Stockport: Dewi Lewis Publishing, 1999.Elsken, Ed van der. Parijs! - 1950 - 1954. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Bert Bakker, 1981.
"This photograph is used for the cover of Van der Elsken's first book, the photo novel 'Love on the Left Bank'. Vali Meyers, who plays Ann, the main character in the book, was his muse for quite some time. On many occasions he photographed her together with her mirror image. here she is tragic, sensual and unapproachable. In other images she represents an unbridled lust for life, feminine beauty or a deep existential loneliness. In the book, the mirror-portrait in this photograph is juxtaposed with a picture of a more contemplative Ann walking down the street." - Visser, Hripsime, " Ed van der Elsken 55". New York: Phaidon Press, 2002.
