Ernest Joseph Bellocq
Ernest Joseph Bellocq, is an enigma. Born in 1873, into a wealthy Catholic New Orleans family who lived in relative style for those times, he frequented the French Opera House as a child. Never an academic as his brother Leo, he managed complete 10 years of classical education at the local College of the Immaculate Conception. Thereafter, his father Paul secured a position at the firm for which he was Secretary and Treasurer. Ernest Joseph Bellocq was considered somewhat of a dandy, and was extremely restless but worked as a bookkeeper, never remaining in the same job for too long. Fascination with and the dabbling in photography, saw him being hailed as popular, talented and extremely knowledgeable amateur photographer in 1898.
Interestingly enough, it was around this time that his photograph, appeared in the social column of a local publication declaring him a descendent of one of the city’s most aristocratic Creole families and that he received invitations to the most private and fashionable social functions. It was more or less at this time, that his mother died. Ernest Joseph Bellocq was close to 30 years old and decided to focus on his real interest, photography. He was employed by commercial maritime companies to photograph specific landmarks and ships, which brought in a fairly steady income.
Yet, Bellocq had a secret photographic life – that being photographing the prostitutes of Storyville. Prostitution was legalized in certain areas of New Orleans, taking into consideration that it was a port. It is assumed that he frequented the brothels of the time, perhaps for his entertainment to begin with, until he developed a desire to capture and immortalize the women of Storyville. It is unclear whether these photographs were made for his personal reasons or with the thought to capture the seamier side of New Orleans history. It nevertheless, sparked much speculation and has been the subject of poetry and novels. The Louis Malle film Pretty Baby, starring Brooke Shields and Susan Sarandon with Keith Carradine, portrayed the life of Ernest Joseph Bellocq. Most of which is purely fictional.
Ernest Joseph Bellocq used a 8 x 10 inch view camera, which he was often seen carrying to photography the prostitutes of the Storyville District It never came to light till after his death. Many of the pictures have been defaced by the photographer who seemed to want to conceal the identity of the nude models – oddly enough it appears that the same women appear clothed in other pictures. Amongst his picture are a few rather endearing and whimsical images of everyday life in the brothel quarter.
It was with much effort that master photographer Lee Friedlander acquired the negative plates, after there discovery in an old sofa in 1971. Ernest Joseph Bellocq published a book called Storyville Portraits. Several more plates have come to light, broadening the understanding of Bellocq’s unique style – almost innocent, with poignancy and sensitivity. A few professional photographic portraits and local scenery still exist from his early days.
Ernest Joseph Bellocq has been posthumously recognized as being a rather astute photographer, who has contributed to the history of photography.
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