Kiki et Son Ami Accordioniste à Montparnasse
In his memoir The Secret Paris of the 30's, Brassaï wrote of his nocturnal photographic journeys among the demimonde at night: prostitutes, opium addicts, vagabonds, street toughs, and bohemians such as Kiki of Montparnasse, pictured here with her accompanist at the Cabaret des Fleurs. Born Alice Prin, Kiki was a favorite model of the School of Paris painters, muse and lover of Man Ray, actress in avant-garde films such as Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy's Ballet Mécanique, libertine, and renowned wit. Brassaï devoted an entire chapter of his memoirs to Kiki, who serves in his narrative as the personification of the city at night.
Artwork Details
- Title: Kiki et Son Ami Accordioniste à Montparnasse
- Artist: Brassaï (French (born Romania), Brașov 1899–1984 Côte d'Azur)
- Date: ca. 1932, printed 1950s
- Medium: Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions: 23.0 x 17.4 cm. (9 1/16 x 6 7/8 in.)
- Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Purchase, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Gift, through Joyce and Robert Menschel, 1987
- Object Number: 1987.1045.1
- Rights and Reproduction: © Estate Brassaï Succession – Paris
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Brassaï
1936
Brassaï
1939
Brassaï
1946
Brassaï
1950, printed 1960s
Brassaï
1946
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.