Dutch Photographers since 1938

Jesse, Nico

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Short description

Nico Jesse was best known for his photo-book Women of Paris, published in 1954; his candid pictures of women going about their daily occupations convey the vitality of the city. Two years later the book was reprinted in a paperback edition; over the more... »

Nico Jesse was best known for his photo-book Women of Paris, published in 1954; his candid pictures of women going about their daily occupations convey the vitality of the city. Two years later the book was reprinted in a paperback edition; over the next few years it appeared in several countries, including Japan. Characteristic of Jesse's work, the pictures reflect his unconventional, almost filmic treatment: people are the focal aspect and movement is often an essential element. The use of flashlight to make the figures stand out from the background is another typically Jessean device. It is not so very surprising that he made his name with a book, for his strength lay less in the individual image than in a succession of them.
Nico Jesse had studied medicine and for many years combined his profession as a general practitioner with his passion for photography. His interest in people motivated him in both capacities. In 1956 he retired from general practice to devote himself entirely to photography. His assignments came from various companies; he took photographs for annual reports and/or company publications and for many years photographed Amsterdam's important annual literary event, the Book Ball. He also produced in rapid succession a large number of photo-books featuring European cities and countries. It is clear from these books that he was more interested in the people and atmosphere of a city than in tourist attractions.
To Jesse, photography was always a means of rendering human relationships visible. In 1962 he returned to doctoring, but continued to take photographs. At his death in 1976 he left a large photographic oeuvre which conveys a wonderful picture of the Netherlands and Europe in the fifties and sixties. « less...

Place/date of birth

Rotterdam 1911-08-22 

Place/date of death

1976-01-21 

Nationality

Nederlands 

Discipline

fotograaf, arts 

Subject

reportagefotografie, documentaire fotografie, reisfotografie, portretfotografie, reclamefotografie, fotojournalistiek
 

Product

fotomontages, fotoboeken  

Material

diapositief, bromidedruk 

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Other websites about this photographer

 

 

Go to this photographer in RKD-Artists 

Latest editing

2011-11-17 (el) 

Places/periods of working

Utrecht
Parijs
Loenen aan de Vecht (Stichtse Vecht)
Londen
Rome
Parijs
Cuijk
Oss
Venlo
 

Publications

 

Education

 

Pupil of

 

Teacher of

 

Winner of

 

Member of

Nederlandsche Fotografen Patroons Vereeniging (NFPV) 

See also

  

Sources

 

Additional remarks