Christer Strömholm (1918–2002) was one of the most influential Scandinavian photographers and the recipient of the 1997 Hasselblad Award. Born in Stockholm, in 1946 Strömholm moved to Paris where he discovered photography. Between 1949 and ’54 he joines the German group of photographers Fotoforum, led by Otto Steinert. Perhaps Strömholm’s most influential series is “Les Amies de la Place Blanche,” documenting the transsexuals of Paris’ Place Blanche in the late fifties and early sixties. From 1962 to ’74 he was director of Fotoskolan in Stockholm where he trained over 1,200 students.
Artist: https://www.stromholm.com/
Video: Christer Strömholm- Les Amies de Place Blanche @ ICP (Youtube)
Lovely to see this. Thanks.
I became familiar with Christer Strömholms’ work when I bought his book “Vännerna från Place Blanche”, the original version published by ETC. I guess I bought it direct from ETC’s office. I was visiting them and I remember I bought at least some book they had published (might also have been Anders Petersen’s “Café Lehmitz”, one of those books I do also love). As I was also reading the ETC magazine on regular basis and there were often Strömholm’s photos, I really started to love his work. Then he had a big exhibition in Stockholm (spring 1986) and I went to see it. And there he was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room, looking people looking at his work. I recognized him and went to him and asked if it’s possible to do an interview with him. I travelled to Sweden again bit later and did an interview with him at his home. I also took some pictures of him. My article was published in a Finnish photo magazine that I have been contributing to the very recent years (my last article was published in the last issue of 2018, I am afraid it really was my last article for them as the magazine has changed so much and I haven’t changed with them, I am too old-fashioned…). I really am happy I had a chance to meet him as I really love his work.
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