E.J. Bellocq

E.J. Bellocq (United States, 1873-1949)

Born in 1873, E.J. Bellocq was a successful commercial photographer in New Orleans for several decades. He is best known, however, for his private photographs of prostitutes in the legal brothels of New Orleans' Storyville red light district. Mostly taken inside the brothels, these portraits have a remarkably relaxed, intimate feel. After Bellocq's death in 1949, these photographs remained unknown for years before being discovered, purchased, restored and printed by photographer Lee Friedlander. Bellocq also reportedly photographed scenes inside the opium dens of New Orleans' Chinatown, but unfortunately none of this work survives.

http://www.dazereader.com/bellocq.htm

During his lifetime, E.J. Bellocq was known as a maritime photographer and no one knew of his pastimes in Storyville. There is much speculation as to why some negatives contain images with faces scratched out.

Exquisite Corpse -- loads of information about Bellocq
http://www.corpse.org/issue_10/gallery/bellocq/