What happened in this Culture story?

A new photo essay by French photographer and actor Martine Barrat offers an intimate look at Harlem and the Bronx, capturing block parties, boxing clubs, and other scenes she was invited into by trusting residents.

What is a key fact in this story? (1)

**Martine Barrat**, a French photographer and actor, published a photo essay on September 24, 2026 capturing "block parties and boxing clubs" across Harlem and the Bronx in what the source calls a "tough and tender" portrait of New York.

What is a key fact in this story? (2)

Barrat's "deep love" of these neighborhoods earned her extraordinary access, with residents inviting her into gang apartments, child boxing matches, and even a stranger's wedding.

Martine Barrat's Harlem and Bronx Photo Essay Published — SkimNews

By The Guardian Culture · Summarized & edited by Kapil Samant · 2026-09-24

Get the Culture newsletter

Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.

Martine Barrat, a French photographer and actor, published a photo essay on September 24, 2026 capturing "block parties and boxing clubs" across Harlem and the Bronx in what the source calls a "tough and tender" portrait of New York.
Barrat's "deep love" of these neighborhoods earned her extraordinary access, with residents inviting her into gang apartments, child boxing matches, and even a stranger's wedding.

Why it matters: The photo essay offers an unusually intimate visual record of everyday Harlem and Bronx life — neighborhoods with deep cultural history that mainstream visual coverage frequently overlooks. The source attributes Barrat's rare access to her sustained emotional investment, suggesting relationships, not credentials, unlocked the doors.