Clarence John Laughlin
author · photographer
Clarence John Laughlin (1905–1985) was an American photographer and writer best known for his surrealist photographs of the American South. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he moved to New Orleans after a failed family business venture. A self-taught photographer who began working with a view camera at age 25, Laughlin became a pioneer of photographic surrealism in the United States. His work often featured haunting, monochromatic depictions of decaying architecture and plantation homes, influenced by his interest in literature and French symbolism. He was also an avid book collector, amassing a library of over 30,000 volumes focused on science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre. His major works include 'Ghosts Along the Mississippi' (1948) and 'The Personal Eye' (1973).[1,2,3,4]
- Surrealism
- Southern Gothic
- Architecture
- Decay
- Fantasy
Books
Works by Clarence John Laughlin
- 1948 Ghosts Along the Mississippi: The Magic of the Old Houses of Louisiana Features 100 black and white images focused on Southern architecture.
- 1973 Clarence John Laughlin: The Personal Eye Monograph produced for his 1973-74 exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Exhibitions
- 1973 Clarence John Laughlin: The Personal Eye