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Send in the clowns! Dreamlike images – in pictures
Developed over time first seen 2 days ago
A picture gallery published on 3 November 2026 presents photographs from Nicolas Rachline’s book Elsebound: Photographs from the Quiet Hours. The images show city streets, restaurants and solitary figures in Paris, New York, Brussels, Los Angeles and St Tropez. One Brussels photograph features two people dressed as clowns facing each other at night. Across the selection, deep shadows and carefully framed pools of light give familiar places an unsettled, dreamlike quality.
Rachline describes Edward Hopper, Brassaï and film noir among his influences. He says a photograph of a lone diner in an almost empty New York restaurant captures the solitude and stillness he seeks, while a Brussels restaurant scene pays homage to Hopper’s Nighthawks. Rizzoli published the 224-page book in September 2026. The gallery also says a solo exhibition of Rachline’s work is scheduled at Oana Ivan Gallery in Paris from 19 November 2026 to 23 January 2027.
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In short
- Nicolas Rachline’s Elsebound turns everyday city scenes into dreamlike photographs.
- A Brussels image of two clowns is among the gallery’s most striking pictures.
- The book was published in September 2026; a Paris exhibition is scheduled to follow.
How this story developed
- 1 day ago A picture gallery published on 3 November 2026 presents photographs from Nicolas Rachline’s book Elsebound: Photographs from the Quiet Hours. The images show city streets, restaurants and solitary figures in Paris, New York, Brussels, Los Angeles and St Tropez.
- The Guardian Send in the clowns! Dreamlike images – in pictures
- Rizzoli New York Elsebound: Photographs from the Quiet Hours
Explained simply
Nicolas Rachline is a photographer whose book Elsebound: Photographs from the Quiet Hours gathers scenes from cities including Paris, New York, Brussels and Los Angeles. Its subjects include streets, restaurants and people alone or in pairs, often shown at night.
Rachline has named painter Edward Hopper, photographer Brassaï and film noir as influences. Hopper is known for paintings of people in urban settings, while film noir is associated with dramatic shadows and strong contrasts of light. These references help explain the photographs’ carefully framed scenes and their dreamlike atmosphere.