Elsken, Ed van der - Amsterdam - Oude foto's 1947-1970

'My Amsterdam. My Amsterdammers.' That's what Ed van der Elsken wanted to capture, preferably in close shots. 'People from decent neighborhoods: Nieuwmarkt, the Jewish quarter, De Pijp, Kattenburg. People who never make it over to Apollolaan or to the ritzy Goudkust... well maybe as a milkman, or as a burglar.'

Ed van der Elsken liked commotion, action. He photographed demonstrations, markets, fairs, traffic. But also workmen, rebellious young people and beautiful girls. And the 'mean, boorish cops' who often took drastic measures during riots. The photographs taken in 'his city' between 1947 and 1970 were compiled in the book Amsterdam!, the first edition of which was published in 1979. His innovative style has made this book a classic. Now it is being republished. New scans of all the original negatives have been made for this, and the resulting photographs are more beautiful than ever.

Ed van der Elsken (1925-1990) was a photographer and filmmaker who managed to find huge delight in ordinary people and scenes. His photographs instantly convey what life, to him, was about: courage, individualism and freedom. He published more than twenty books of photographs, including Een liefdesgeschiedenis in Saint Germain des Prés (Love on the Left Bank) (1956), Eye Love You (1977) and Parijs! Foto's 1950-1954 (Paris! Photographs 1950-1954) (1981).