Archive · 13 Dec 2025
France-born photographer captures Calcutta street life
A photographer named Alexandre de Mortemart has made a book called 'Mystical' with 110 black and white photos.
He took these photos in Calcutta, India, from 2017 to 2024.
The photos show people working hard to make a living, like street performers and ragpickers.
He also took pictures of things that looked like faces, like a plastic sheet.
One series shows a mannequin outside a tailor's shop slowly breaking down over the years.
The photographer used to work for French newspapers and has lived in Calcutta since 1998.
He now splits his time between Calcutta and Paris.
The book was first sold out at a fair in Paris and was recently launched in Calcutta.
Alexandre de Mortemart launched a book of 110 black and white photographs documenting Calcutta's street life.
The photographs were taken between 2017 and 2024, capturing daily wage earners and street performers.
Mortemart also photographed inanimate objects that resembled human faces and a series of a deteriorating mannequin.
The book, 'Mystical', was first launched at Paris Photo and sold out, then launched in Calcutta at The Bengal Club.
Mortemart has lived in Calcutta since 1998 and now splits his time between Calcutta and Paris.
- Who
- Alexandre de Mortemart, a France-born photographer
- What
- Launched a book of black and white photographs documenting Calcutta's street life
- When
- The book was launched on Wednesday, with an earlier launch at Paris Photo last month
- Where
- The book launch was held at The Bengal Club in Calcutta
- Why
- To capture the daily lives and struggles of people in Calcutta, as well as his personal interest in faces and the changing cityscape
- Photographer
- Alexandre de Mortemart
- Book Title
- Mystical
- Number of Photos
- 110
- Photography Period
- 2017-2024
- Photography Style
- Black and white
- Book Launch Location
- The Bengal Club, Calcutta
- Photographer's Residence
- Calcutta and Paris