Harold Chapman (1927-2022)

Belatedly noting the passing, (on August 19, at the age of 95), of the British photographer, and “recording angel” and denizen of the fabled Beat Hotel,
Harold Chapman

OMC Gallery, his long-time representatives present an obituary notice – here
TopFoto released a note on his passing here
Oliver Harris’ obituary notice for the European Beat Studies Network  can be read here

Read a wonderful interview (from 2012) (with Michael Limnios) – here 

Here’s, more recently, (2017), a 90-year-old Harold sitting down and in conversation with gallery director, Myles Corley – “Not Only The Beat Hotel”

“Not Only The Beat Hotel” – but  The Beat Hotel images will forever be the body of work for which he will always be remembered

and from those Paris years, this truly iconic shot (of Allen and Peter Orlovsky):

He acknowledged it as his favorite shot, back in 2010, in an article in The Guardian

Here’s Allen, photographed in his room in The Beat Hotel (in front of a picture of Arthur Rimbaud):

Here are a few more images from that collection

Rest in peace, Harold – a sweet soul