In the early 1950s, Ed van der Elsken (1925–1990) lived in Paris, where he photographed the lives of eccentric bohemians. From these innovative images, he developed a fictional love story in the photo book Love on the Left Bank (1956), which made van der Elsken an overnight sensation. In nine exhibition rooms, the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam presents the art photographer’s work, spanning from his early pieces of the 1950s to the late 1980s. Van der Elsken—described as an »enfant terrible«—is regarded as a groundbreaking photographer who succeeded in capturing a unique vitality in his images, whether in the Netherlands, Cuba, or Japan. Since 2019, the Rijksmuseum, in collaboration with the Nederlands Fotomuseum, has held the rights to van der Elsken’s personal archive. For the first time, items such as handwritten notes on the works or photographic experiments will be on public display. Ed van der Elsken. Up Close runs through September 13.
The collection of famous and lesser-known photographs, accompanied by personal notes, paints a detailed picture of van der Elsken’s intellectual world and working methods, offering a perspective never before seen. The influential photographer is also known for his compositional experiments and his exploration of new techniques and materials, all aimed at pushing the boundaries of photographic representation. The artist, who was particularly fascinated by Weegee’s oeuvre, was also active as a filmmaker. His repertoire included art films, documentaries, and television films, all of which consistently explored aspects of his personal life.
