Chim: David Seymour's Humanist Photography
National Gallery of Art, home page
Image: David Seymour (Chim), Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950, gelatin silver print David Seymour (Chim)
Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950
gelatin silver print
National Gallery of Art, Gift of Ben Shneiderman
© David Seymour Estate/Magnum Photos
Image: David Seymour (Chim), Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950, gelatin silver print David Seymour (Chim)
Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950
gelatin silver print
National Gallery of Art, Gift of Ben Shneiderman
© David Seymour Estate/Magnum Photos
Image: David Seymour (Chim), Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950, gelatin silver print David Seymour (Chim)
Venice Fish Market at the Rialto, 1950
gelatin silver print
National Gallery of Art, Gift of Ben Shneiderman
© David Seymour Estate/Magnum Photos

Italy

Venice Fish Market at the Rialto

At Venice's famed Rialto fish market, Chim captured the intimate and seemingly mysterious process by which fish mongers auctioned fish by the lot to dealers. After the monger-cum-auctioneer announced that a lot was open for bidding, dealers would approach him individually and whisper offers in his ear. The strangely silent proceedings continued until all the interested dealers had whispered their bids, at which point the auctioneer would announce the winner.