Eduardo Brassai (born Eduardo de Brassai, October 28, 1881 – April 8, 1971) was a Hungarian-born photographer and filmmaker. He is best known for his photographs of Paris in the 1930s and 1940s.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Brassai was the son of a prominent Jewish family. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest before moving to Paris in 1924. In Paris, he worked as an illustrator for various magazines and newspapers before turning to photography.
Brassai's photography focused on the city of Paris and its inhabitants. He captured the city's nightlife with his signature style of low-light photography. His work often featured street scenes, cafes, and other aspects of everyday life in Paris. He also photographed famous figures such as Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau.
In addition to his photography work, Brassai also wrote several books about his experiences in Paris including The Secret Paris of the 30s (1933), The People of Paris (1934), and The Art of Seeing (1937). He also wrote several novels including The Secret Life of a Photographer (1941) and The Night Watchman (1945).
Brassai's work has been exhibited around the world including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His photographs have been published in numerous books including Brassai: The Eye Of Paris (2005) and Brassai: A Retrospective (2008). His work continues to be highly regarded by photographers today.