Bellocq: The Myth

The Mystery of the Scratched Faces of Storyville

The scratched-out faces on some of Ernest Joseph Bellocq's Storyville photographs remain one of the most intriguing mysteries surrounding his work. Bellocq, known for his intimate portraits of the women who lived and worked in the famed red-light district of New Orleans in the early 20th century, left behind a collection of glass plate negatives, many of which featured deliberate damage to the faces of his subjects.

Possible Theories

Over the years, scholars, historians, and art enthusiasts have speculated about the reasons behind the defaced images, offering various theories:

1. Bellocq's Own Hand

Some suggest that Bellocq himself scratched the negatives, possibly to preserve the anonymity of the women he photographed. Given the stigma associated with sex work at the time, Bellocq may have sought to protect their identities in case the images were discovered or shared.

2. Posthumous Alteration

Another theory is that the damage occurred after Bellocq's death. The negatives were discovered in the 1950s in a decrepit state, and it’s possible that someone who came across them defaced the images, either to obscure the women's identities or out of moral disapproval of the subject matter.

3. Personal Relationships

Some have speculated that the scratched-out faces were an act of anger or grief, possibly linked to Bellocq's personal relationships with his subjects. The photographs, intimate and raw, suggest a closeness between the photographer and his models, and the defacement may reflect emotional turmoil.

4. Cultural or Societal Pressure

Given the puritanical attitudes of the time, it is possible that someone, fearing the repercussions of these provocative images being seen, attempted to "sanitize" them by defacing the women's faces. This could have been done by a family member, a later owner of the negatives, or someone who stumbled upon them.

5. Accidental Damage

While deliberate scratching seems likely, some argue that the damage could have been accidental, resulting from mishandling or degradation over time. However, the precision and consistency of the defacement suggest intent rather than mere coincidence.

Artistic and Emotional Resonance

The scratched faces add an eerie, poignant quality to Bellocq’s photographs. These images, already steeped in the vulnerability and strength of their subjects, now carry an additional layer of mystery and loss. The defacement transforms the photographs into more than documentation—they become relics of human complexity, evoking questions about identity, power, and the ethics of representation.

Legacy of the Scratches

Despite—or perhaps because of—the defaced images, Bellocq’s Storyville photographs continue to fascinate and provoke discussion. The scratches amplify the aura of mystery surrounding Bellocq’s life and work, cementing his photographs as both historical artifacts and enigmatic works of art. While the true reason for the damage may never be known, the scratched faces serve as a powerful reminder of the tension between anonymity and visibility, and of the fragile balance between preservation and erasure in the history of marginalized lives.

Bellocq: The Legend