Brassaï

orig. Gyula Halász

(born Sept. 9, 1899, Brassó, Transylvania, Austria-Hungary—died July 8, 1984, Eze, France) Hungarian-born French photographer, poet, and sculptor. His pseudonym derives from his native city. In 1924 he settled in Paris, where he became acquainted with Pablo Picasso, Joan Mir, and Salvador Dal. He earned his living as a journalist and found it necessary to use a camera for his assignments. In the 1930s he became known for his dramatic photographs of Paris nightlife. Books of his photographs, including Paris After Dark (1933) and Pleasures of Paris (1935), brought him international fame.

Find more information on Brassaï. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Brassaï.