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Hisham Matar with Man Sleeping Along the Seine

Episode 13 of 30

British-Libyan writer Hisham Matar finds inspiration in BrassaΓ―'s photographic study of a man sleeping by the Seine.

Art critic Alastair Sooke, in the company of some of the leading creatives of our age, continues his deep dive into the stunning works in the Museum of Modern Art's collection, whilst exploring what it really means β€œto see” art.

Today's edition features Art critic Alastair Sooke, in the company of some of the leading creatives of our age, continues his deep dive into the stunning works in the Museum of Modern Art's collection, whilst exploring what it really means β€œto see” art.

Today's edition features Hisham Matar , the American-born British-Libyan writer whose memoir of the search for his father, The Return, won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. He has chosen a photograph by Hungarian–French photographer BrassaΓ―, which is biographic in its own way, featuring a man sleeping by the River Seine, taken in 1932. What inspiration will the award-winning novelist take from this image?

Producer: Tom Alban

Main Image: BrassaΓ― (Gyula HalΓ‘sz), Man Sleeping Along the Seine (Homme endormi au bord de la Seine),
1932. Gelatin silver print, 11 5/8 x 9 1/8" (29.6 x 23.2 cm). David H. McAlpin Fund, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2526.1967. Β© Estate BrassaΓ―-RMN

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14 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 30 Oct 2019 22:45
  • Wed 3 Aug 2022 22:45

View the works of art

View the works of art

See all of the works from the Museum of Modern Art selected by guests in this series.

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