Bold claim: this facsimile edition of Ed van der Elsken’s Love On The Left Bank redefines a photography classic for a new generation. Dewi Lewis Publishing releases this reissue, originally published in 1956, which captures the Left Bank of Paris at the height of its creative boom. The book spotlights the area as a hub for artists, writers, and aesthetes who would shape a whole generation’s cultural trajectory. Its raw, snapshot-inspired approach pushed documentary photography beyond conventional boundaries, earning wide acclaim for its gritty authenticity.
Ed van der Elsken (born 1925 in Amsterdam) stands as one of the century’s most influential photographers. Over his lifetime, he published more than twenty books, and his work has enjoyed global exhibitions in recent years. He passed away in 1990.
Vali Myers, appearing as “Ann,” was born in 1930 in Sydney, Australia. A dancer and artist, she reached Paris in 1949. In post-war life on the streets and in the cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, she continued to dance and draw; her drawings are included in the book. Myers later traveled widely and earned international recognition as an artist. She died in 2003.
Details of the edition:
- Title: Ed van der Elsken: Love On The Left Bank
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 112
- Photographs: 200 duotone plates
- Dimensions: 275 mm x 195 mm
- ISBN: 978-1-899235-22-3
- Price: £30.00
- Publisher: Dewi Lewis Publishing
- Website: www.dewilewis.com
Notes for readers: this edition preserves the book’s original spirit while presenting its iconic images anew for contemporary viewers. It remains a essential reference for anyone exploring mid-20th-century street photography, documentary practice, or the cultural life of postwar Paris.
