Busacca Gallery

Description:

By Artist Peter Miller of Vermont: "Les Forts" they called them—strong men. They carried on those "ladders" on their back crates of produce from trucks to stalls and back again. There is no more Les Halles and no more "Les Forts". A first edition of 6 silver gelatin prints made by the author is available. It is matted to 16x20 inches and signed by the photographer on the back and the location and date are given. The print is also signed on the mat and the location and date are given. The price is $500 for # 1 and 2, $700 for # 3 and 4, $900.00 for 5 and 6.

Reference:

Wikipedia

Les Halles was the traditional central market of Paris. In 1183, King Philippe II Auguste enlarged the marketplace in Paris and built a shelter for the merchants, who came from all over to sell their wares. In the 1850s, the massive glass and iron buildings (Victor Baltard Architect) Les Halles became known for were constructed. Les Halles was known as the "belly of Paris".



Unable to compete in the new market economy and in need of massive repairs, the colorful ambience once associated with the bustling area of merchant stalls disappeared in 1971, when Les Halles was dismantled; the wholesale market was relocated to the suburb of Rungis.

For several years, the site of the markets was an enormous open pit, nicknamed "le trou des Halles" (trou = hole), regarded as an eyesore at the foot of the historic church of Saint-Eustache.

The Forum des Halles, a partially underground multiple storey commercial and shopping center, opened in 1979. The building was criticized for its design and in recent years the city of Paris has undertaken consultations regarding the remodeling of the area.



Part of the actual demolition of the site is featured in the film, Touche Pas de la Femme Blanche (Don't Touch the White Woman) which iconaclastically restages General Custer's 'last stand' in a distinctly French context in and around the area.



Les Halles was called "The Belly of Paris" by Balzac. It was a huge farmer's market service Paris restaurants and also the location of all night restaurants, the most famous is Le Pied de Cochon, still going strong.



Any photographer who documents people spent time in Les Halles.