Eli lotar
Encyclopedia
Eli Lotar was a French photographer. Lotar (full name Eliazar Lotar Teodoresco) was born the son of a celebrated poet in Romania
in 1905. He became a French citizen in 1926 and met the German photographer Germaine Krull
. He took part in many exhibitions with Krull and photographer André Kertész
. Lotar published his photographs in reviews such as Jazz, Variétés, Bifur, and Documents. His reportage on the Parisian La Villette's slaughterhouses (1929, issue 6) was a theme very much in line with Georges Bataille
's interests in sacrificial rituals and became one of his best-known works.
Lotar also frequented cinematic and theatrical circles, through which he met filmmakers René Clair
and Luis Buñuel
, theater director Antonin Artaud
and playwright Roger Vitrac
. Lotar was the cinematographer on Buñuel's Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan
. A member of the October group, Lotar worked with filmmakers such as Jacques Brunius, Joris Ivens
, Jean Painlevé
and Jean Renoir
, as a set photographer or as a cameraman. He assisted Marc Allégret
and directed three films, one of which, Aubervilliers (1946), was selected for the Cannes film festival
in 1946. During his last years, which were particularly somber, he became close friends with Alberto Giacometti
and posed for several of his sculptures.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in 1905. He became a French citizen in 1926 and met the German photographer Germaine Krull
Germaine Krull
Germaine Krull , was a photographer, political activist, and hotel owner. Her nationality has been categorized as German, Polish, French, and Dutch, but she spent years in Brazil, Republic of the Congo, Thailand, and India...
. He took part in many exhibitions with Krull and photographer André Kertész
André Kertész
André Kertész , born Kertész Andor, was a Hungarian-born photographer known for his groundbreaking contributions to photographic composition and the photo essay. In the early years of his career, his then-unorthodox camera angles and style prevented his work from gaining wider recognition...
. Lotar published his photographs in reviews such as Jazz, Variétés, Bifur, and Documents. His reportage on the Parisian La Villette's slaughterhouses (1929, issue 6) was a theme very much in line with Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille was a French writer. His multifaceted work is linked to the domains of literature, anthropology, philosophy, economy, sociology and history of art...
's interests in sacrificial rituals and became one of his best-known works.
Lotar also frequented cinematic and theatrical circles, through which he met filmmakers René Clair
René Clair
René Clair born René-Lucien Chomette, was a French filmmaker.-Biography:He was born in Paris and grew up in the Les Halles quarter. He attended the Lycée Montaigne and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. During World War I, he served as an ambulance driver. After the war, he started a career as a journalist...
and Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
, theater director Antonin Artaud
Antonin Artaud
Antoine Marie Joseph Artaud, more well-known as Antonin Artaud was a French playwright, poet, actor and theatre director...
and playwright Roger Vitrac
Roger Vitrac
Roger Vitrac was a French surrealist playwright and poet.Born in Pinsac, Roger Vitrac moved to Paris in 1910. As a young man, he was influenced by symbolism and the writings of Lautréamont and Alfred Jarry, and he developed a passion for theatre and poetry...
. Lotar was the cinematographer on Buñuel's Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan
Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan
Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan , is a 27-minute-long documentary film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-produced by Buñuel and Ramon Acin...
. A member of the October group, Lotar worked with filmmakers such as Jacques Brunius, Joris Ivens
Joris Ivens
Joris Ivens was a Dutch documentary filmmaker and committed communist.-Early life and career:...
, Jean Painlevé
Jean Painlevé
Jean Painlevé was a film director, actor, translator, animator, critic and theorist. He was the son of mathematician and twice prime-minister of France, Paul Painlevé.-Upbringing:...
and Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s...
, as a set photographer or as a cameraman. He assisted Marc Allégret
Marc Allégret
Marc Allégret was a French screenwriter and film director.Born in Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, he was the elder brother of Yves Allégret. Marc was educated to be a lawyer. Allégret became André Gide's lover when he was fifteen and Gide was forty-seven...
and directed three films, one of which, Aubervilliers (1946), was selected for the Cannes film festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in 1946. During his last years, which were particularly somber, he became close friends with Alberto Giacometti
Alberto Giacometti
Alberto Giacometti was a Swiss sculptor, painter, draughtsman, and printmaker.Alberto Giacometti was born in the canton Graubünden's southerly alpine valley Val Bregaglia and came from an artistic background; his father, Giovanni, was a well-known post-Impressionist painter...
and posed for several of his sculptures.