Ed van der Elsken (Amsterdam, 1925) was one of the most distinctive photographers the Netherlands has produced. His camera was not a wall to hide behind, but a window through which this talented ‘enfant terrible’ sought contact with outsiders and eccentrics.
Van der Elsken’s photography career began in earnest in 1956 with the publication of Love on the Left Bank, a beautifully designed photobook reflecting his impressions of Paris, where he lived from 1950 through 1954 with his then wife Ata Kando and her three children.
The book attracted international attention and launched an impressive series of more than twenty books. In it, Van der Elsken turned his inquisitive gaze on the young bohemians of the French capital, including the Australian artist Vali Myers (1930-2003), who later became famous.
1954. Van der Elsken returned to his beloved Amsterdam, a city that was an inexhaustible source of inspiration for this passionate soul. Fascinated by other cultures and circumstances, he made many working trips from there, including to Bagara in Central Africa in 1957, and in 1959 and 1960 undertook a journey around the world.
In 1971, the year he received the State Prize for Film Art as a filmmaker, his third period as a photographer began when he settled with Anneke Hilhorst in the countryside near Edam. His wanderlust remained, and on assignment for the monthly magazine Avenue he traveled to destinations including Japan (see The Discovery of Japan, 1988). One of the highlights of Van der Elsken’s career came in 1977 with the release of Eye Love You, in which he portrayed life—and suffering—on Earth in a way that was both stunning and original.
What Happened to Him?
In 1988, Van der Elsken learned that he had prostate cancer. Two years later, on December 28, 1990, he died from the disease in Edam at the age of 65. It was a day that marked not only the end of a life, but also the Netherlands’ farewell to one of its greatest photographers.
With thanks to www.edvanderelsken.nl and the Nederlands Fotomuseum.
