Lust For Life

‘I sing the praises of life. I am not more complicated than that. I sing everything: love, courage, beauty but also anger, blood, sweat and tears’ – Ed van der Elsken

Lust for Life is the first comprehensive overview of Ed van der Elsken’s colour work.

Its publication coincided with a major six month long exhibition at The Nederlands Fotomuseum, the national museum of photography in the Netherlands. The exhibition was only possible as a result of the largest photo restoration project in Dutch history – with more than 42,000 slides of van der Elsken’s work now carefully restored.

Recognised as one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, Ed van der Elsken's classic book 'Love On The Left Bank' is still in print over sixty years after it was first published.

Although he died in 1990, his work has become increasingly popular with regular exhibitions on a worldwide basis. Ed himself travelled extensively, making contact with people across the world with his camera.

His quirky, extrovert character is mirrored in his extraordinary photography and his energy and zest for living live on through his work and continue to touch people.