Portraits of prostitutes in Storyville, New Orleans, LouisianaBellocq, E. J.1950.engPhotographs created by E. J. Bellocq chiefly of nude prostitutes in Storyville, New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1910-1915, and printed from his negatives by an unidentified printer, probably in 1950Print No. 1 depicts a partially nude woman posed standing in profile beside a bentwood bed; her left arm rests on a draped nightstand. She wears opera stockings with bows, as well as underwear gathered at her waist, which exposes her torso. Other elements of the room include a canopy and lace mosquito curtain over the bed, as well as a comforter, pillows, and flower on it. Artwork in the room includes a portrait of a woman and sculpture of a female figure on the nightstand, as well as an indistinct portrait of a woman in a heart-shaped mat on the wallPrint No. 2 depicts a nude woman wearing a sleeping cap and reclining upon a sheet with geometric patterns on an upholstered wooden chaise lounge. Print No. 6 is a variant depiction of the same woman and settingPrint No. 3 depicts a nude woman reclining on a wicker chaise lounge with a pillowPrint No. 4 depicts a nude woman posed sitting sideways on a wooden chair with her legs crossed in front of a draped window. A large steamer trunk and wooden shelves are partially visible on the left edge of the imagePrint No. 5 depicts a nude woman posed standing with her hands held behind her back before a door. She also wears a necklace with a medallion and shoesPrint No. 7 depicts a nude woman posed reclining on an upholstered chaise lounge among several large pillows. She also wears a necklace with a medallion and shoes. Two pillows on the chaise lounge depict respectively a bulldog and a United States flag. In the background, an electrical cord hangs over the latch of a door and wraps around the doorknob, probably as an improvised burglary deterrentE. J. Bellocq (1873-1949), born John Ernest Joseph Bellocq, was a commercial photographer who worked in New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1902-circa 1940. Bellocq is best known for his photographs of prostitutes working in Storyville, the legalized red light district of New Orleans.Title devised by cataloger.Pencil inscriptions on the verso of each print in an unidentified hand, probably transcribed from original mats: "Ernest J. Bellocq (?-1938) Storyville, photog. New Orleans, La."; "Test print obtained by me (A. S.) in 1950, from owner of the glass negatives at that time"; "Photo: circa: 1912"; "See: 'E. J. Bellocq,' Pub. by Museum of Modem Art - 1970 & Rose, Al: 'Storyville, New Orleans' - 1974"; and "Bellocq made photos: 1895-1930s."Linen mat tape affixed to verso of each print with a pencil number inscription, 1-7, probably inscribed by Abraham Stransky.Print No. 4 has emulsion losses along the left edge of image.Print No. 5 has pencil inscription on verso by Stransky: "New Orleans (given to me 1950 by owner of a lot of these glass negatives)."Print No. 6 has emulsion losses along the lower edge, lower left corner, and upper left of image.