Origins & Early Life

Eugène Atget (French: [adʒɛ]; 12 February 1857 – 4 August 1927) was a French flâneur and a pioneer of documentary photography, determined to document all of the architecture and street scenes of Paris before their disappearance to modernization. Most of his photographs were first published by Berenice Abbott after his death. Though he sold his work to artists and craftspeople, and became an inspiration for the surrealists, he did not live to see the wide acclaim his work would eventually receive. Jean-Eugène-Auguste Atget was born 12 February 1857 in Libourne.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His father, carriage builder Jean-Eugène Atget, died in 1862, and his mother, Clara-Adeline Atget née Hourlier died shortly after; he was an orphan at age seven. He was brought up by his maternal grandparents in Bordeaux and, after finishing secondary education, joined the merchant navy. Atget moved to Paris in 1878. He failed the entrance exam for the acting class but was admitted on his second try. Because he was drafted for military service, he could attend class only part-time, and he was expelled from drama school.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Still living in Paris, he became an actor with a travelling...

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• 1857 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1857
• February 12 (02-12) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 12
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