Joan Colom (b. 1921, Barcelona) is known for his series of photographs taken from 1958 to 1961 in Raval, Barcelona’s red light district. Colom was able to capture the culture of Raval, the poorest neighborhood in Barcelona, by holding his camera so he would not attract the attention of his subjects, most of whom were prostitutes and other neighborhood inhabitants. The resulting documentary-style photographs captured the essence of an area that was rife with taboos among outsiders. He did not necessarily break through these assumptions, but he provided a view of a world previously unseen by the general public, depicting them from inside their world. Rather than posing, the residents are depicted in their natural behavior, unaware of, and thus unaffected by, the camera.

Though the series was highly revered among viewers as it was exhibited throughout Spain and published in a book, “Izas, Rabizas y Colipoterras,” the success of Colom’s project also raised controversy from the Franco regime who was angered by the book. Colom remained uninvolved in photography until 2003, when his works were included in a new publication, establishing a new audience for his work and reigniting his career. In 2006, The Cartier Bresson Foundation, Paris put on a major exhibition in Colom’s honor.