Prostitutes (2008/2014)

“Raised in a household of three generations only women, it took me several decades to learn, as a seemingly female approaching any male, he will instantly and without any exception, no matter the circumstances, assume ‘she wants me’.
Since I do not share the same reaction when approaching other people, this tends to surprise me every time again. Unfortunately, to this day I have not learned how to use this peculiar phenomenon to my advantage.”

[J.K., 2020]

This series of photos was taken in 2014 of a group of figures created earlier in 2008, inspired by the Brassaï’s famous “Paris de nuit” (1930’s) album, particularly the brothel “Suzy” and its staff.

Photographs of prostitutes have been popular since the discovery of Ernest J. Belloq’s “Storyville” glass negatives (early 1900 cent.), Brassaï’s “Paris de nuit” (1930’s) , Marvin E. Newman’s “Les belles mesdemoiselles de la Rue St. Denis” (1960’s), Christer Strömholm “Les Nuit des Place Blanche” (1960’s) and Jane Evelyn Atwood’s “Rue des Lombards” (1970’s).