NSFW: The upcoming exhibit, Scarlett Muse, at Daniel Cooney Fine Art further exposes hustlers, hookers, prostitutes, gigolos, ladies of the evening and assorted sex workers. Since the dawn of photography over 150 years ago the purveyors of prostitution have inspired compelling imagery...

The idea of this exhibition at first, might seem a bit illicit and seedy, but it is really quite the opposite upon examination. From an early stereo daguerreotype (c.1850’s) to E.J. Bellocq’s portraits of prostitutes in the brothels of New Orleans to Atget and Brassai photographing ladies of the evening in Paris, the show runs the gamut of up-close intimacy.

The more current work of Benjamin Fredrickson in a dual role as artist/hustler with his provocative Polaroid self-portraits made while servicing clients rivet while Anthony Friedkin’s look at gay life in gritty San Francisco are a window into the dawn of gay liberation. Punk rock legend Danny Fields‘ shares living room snapshots circa mid 70’s and artist’s George Awde, P.L. diCorcia and Malerie Marder bring us into the 21st century.

The exhibit opens Thursday, June 9 at Daniel Cooney Fine Art.

When unknown photographer Frank Larson passed away over fifty years ago, his wife Eleanora boxed up all of their possessions and moved out of their retirement home in Lakeville, Connecticut. Carole Larson – the widow of Frank’s youngest son David – and her son Soren were sorting though old boxes in their attic and found these negatives. Soren said:

“I had seen a few examples of my grandfather’s photography over the years and always admired them – our old family photo albums have a few small prints of his work in them. My father also used to speak with admiration about his father’s love of photography and his weekend trips with his Rolleiflex into the city to film places like the Bowery, Chinatown and Times Square.
But when I opened the box and began to explore what was inside I was truly shocked at the quality and range of the images, as well as the effort, dedication and love he brought to the task. When Frank died in 1964, I was only three years old, and too young to remember this gentle, careful man.”

Inside the box were 100+ envelopes filled with 2 1/4 negatives. They were all marked by date and location, carefully sealed and left exactly as he packed them 50 years ago. Soren added:

“As I began unsealing each packet and holding the negatives up to the light, it was like a trip back in time, back to the New York of the early ’50s.”

Vivian Maier was a nanny and discovered in the same way. (She is the subject a fab documentary, Finding Vivian Maier) Larson’s images are good, I would’t say great, like Maier’s, but they are a time-traveling treasure trove glimpse of a long-gone New York City. You can see more of Larson’s work and order very reasonably priced prints here. (Not sure of the edition size...?) They range from $140 for 11 x 14″, to $250 for 30 x 40″. That Star Is Born marquee or the ticket taker would look pretty great HUGE, huh?

"SCARLETT MUSE" EXPOSES & EXPLORES THE WORLD'S OLDEST PROFESSION

THESE FANTASTIC PICS OF LONG-GONE NYC WERE FOUND IN A CARDBOARD BOX