From: "Warren Goldstein" <wgoldstein-AT-stlawu.edu>
Subject: Re: Benjamin Photograph
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 15:10:24 -0500


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.


----- Original Message -----
From: Lloyd Spencer <lloyd-AT-theory99.freeserve.co.uk>


> Two quick queries about those photographs of Benjamin in the Bibliotheque
> nationale:
>
> (1) The first time I saw a version of the image uncropped showing Benjamin
> bent over his work and his index cards it was in a book of photos by Gisele
> Freund. Can anyone remember that uncropped version being reproduced in any
> of the literature on Benjamin?

> (2) Is there any chance that the gentleman seated on Benjamin's right (to
> the left in the photo) is Varian Fry? Varian Fry was the American journalist
> who organised the escape from the Nazis of so many artists and writers and
> had a hand in Benjamin's escape attempt.


> Lloyd

Dear Lloyd,

The uncropped version is reproduced in Hans Puttines and Gary Smith, Benjaminania (Giessen: Anbas Verlag, 1991).  There is no indication who is the gentleman to the right.  Nina Beskow in Paris has the copyright; perhaps she knows.  I am in contact with her trying to negotiate reproducing the photograph.  Next time I speak with her, I will ask.  Coincidentally, I noticed the cropped version appears in the recently translated Arcades Project.

Warren

HTML VERSION: