Find-A-Grave: E.J. Bellocq

Ernest Joseph "E.J." Bellocq

Resting Place: St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, 3421 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA

Born: August 19, 1873

Died: October 3, 1949 (aged 76)

E.J. Bellocq was a talented yet enigmatic photographer best known for his evocative portraits of Storyville, New Orleans' infamous red-light district. Born into a French Creole family in New Orleans, Bellocq led a largely reclusive life, and much of his personal history remains shrouded in mystery. Despite this, his work captures a deeply intimate and hauntingly beautiful glimpse into a world that was often overlooked or misunderstood.

Bellocq's most celebrated photographs are a series of portraits depicting the women who worked in Storyville's brothels. These images, taken during the early 20th century, reveal a mix of vulnerability, strength, and humanity. His subjects are shown in informal and relaxed poses, often gazing directly at the camera, defying the societal stigma surrounding their lives. The portraits are characterized by their stark realism and the trust Bellocq seemed to inspire in his subjects, allowing them to present themselves authentically.

For decades, Bellocq's work remained largely unknown, discovered only after his death when a collection of his glass plate negatives was found. The plates were later popularized by photographer Lee Friedlander in the 1960s, bringing Bellocq's artistry to a wider audience. Today, his Storyville portraits are celebrated as masterpieces of early 20th-century photography, offering a rare and compassionate window into the lives of marginalized women.

1026 Conti Street

The Bellocq family home at 1026 Conti Street later sits next door to the New Orleans Storyville Museum, and ironically from 1938 to 1963, the became the home and brothel of Norma Wallace, known as the last madam of New Orleans.

Though Bellocq lived quietly and died in relative obscurity, his work has earned him posthumous acclaim as a pioneering artist whose lens captured the soul of a forgotten era in New Orleans' history. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of photography to humanize and preserve the stories of those often relegated to the shadows.

Discover Bellocq's infamous photographs by visiting the New Orleans Storyville Museum where an entire gallery is dedicated to showcasing a variety of prints from Bellocq's photography. Also, be sure to watch the controversial film Louis Malle's "Pretty Baby" for the Bellocq-inspired character portrayed by Keith Carradine.

WATCH PRETTY BABY