Career

(National Gallery of Art, 2014)

The French flaneur photographer started out as a sailor before turning to the stage

(1992, p. 10)

He was able to study at the Conservatoire d'art Dramatique for a short while before being dismissed to finish his military service

He later joined a travelling group of actors performing in the suburbs and provinces, but with little success he quit acting

(The Museum of Modern Art, 2014)

'Atget considered both painting and photography. While he soon realised that he lacked the talent to be an accomplished artist, he remained an amateur painter throughout his life. Atget took up photography around 1888.'

(National Gallery of Art, 2014)

(2001, p. 19)

He began supplying documents for artists, before his lifelong documentations of 'Old Paris' began in 1898

(The Museum of Modern Art, 2014)

References:
Badger, G. (2001) Eugene Atget 55. Unknown edn. London: Phaidon Press Limited.
Beaumont-Maillet, L (1992) Atget's Paris. Unknown edn. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.
The Museum of Modern Art (2014) Eugene Atget. Available at: http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=229 (Accessed: 04 February 2014).
National Gallery of Art (2014) The Art of Documentary Photography. Available at: http://www.nga.gov/feature/atget/bio.shtm (Accessed: 04 February 2014).