Richard Avedon

There's an interesting article on photographer Richard Avedon in a recent NY Times. It is focused on (no pun intended) his wall size portraits made in the late 60's and early 70's (that would be the 20th century). You can find it at this LINK.

 

I find this work to be both artistic and of historical significance. Of course good art through the centuries has been of historical significance - not just as being "good art" from a certain era, but on what it tells us about the times in which it was created. This is what I mean here.

The character played by Fred Astaire in the 1957 film "Funny Face" was loosely based on Avedon, who contributed photographs of Audrey Hepburn.

The Work — The Richard Avedon Foundation

 

 

avedonfoundation.org

On Being Photographed by Richard Avedon

 

 

newyorker.com photobooth

It’s not only of historical interest, I think his work and the kind of acceptance his work has achieved over the decades and the different way we now look at all his work, including his celebrity portraits and fashion stuff, is a testament to history evolving, tastes and attitudes changing, and art that’s either ahead of its time or at least better understood from a different sensibility than what dominated one’s own time and place.

New Avedon bio, too:

 

Richard Avedon, a Photographer Who Wanted to Outrun the Glitz Factor

I kept a poster of his girl with snake on the wall behind my desk that always got stares.

Yeah I saw this photo when I was a teenager and he has influence me to take photography as hobby. :)

 

 

I kept a poster of his girl with snake on the wall behind my desk that always got stares.

The "girl" with the snake is actress Nastassja Kinski. All titillation aside, and not to take anything away from either Kinski or Avedon because it's a cool photo, it's worth also taking a look at his fashion stuff, his mural-size group portraits, and especially his American West portraits, to have a fuller view of what he was capable of.

I find this work to be both artistic and of historical significance. Of course good art through the centuries has been of historical significance - not just as being "good art" from a certain era, but on what it tells us about the times in which it was created. This is what I mean here.

Yep.

I appreciate how the NYTimes chose to focus on the “Chicago Seven” and other murals. I think the murals were a touchstone, one apogee for the creative flow of Avedon. & important in the history of photography. The significance of the Chi 7 and the events leading up to and during the trial are part of a notable time in our history, that is no less significant today. The mural captures an important event and time and puts an emphasis on the events. I was there in the park for 2 days & 1 night in 1968. When I first saw the mural I felt the power in my gut. 50+ years later it may require words to understand but what an exceptional document of the time. With a nod to Avedon, that's the photo I want on my wall.

 

Avedon is one of my favorite not to my taste photographers. I respect his impressive work ethic and admire many quotes. I think I would have enjoyed spending some time with him.? Some amazing fashion, advertising work, some ground breaking portraiture, his introspection, his dedication to his craftmanship & career and to not being stagnant.

 

"There is no truth in photography. There is no truth about anyone’s person. My portraits are much more about me than they are about the people I photograph." Avedon

Alan, no dig intented for the Nastassja Kinski poster after all she may be The celebrity crush of my youth. and beyond.

A touch dated but still worthwhile:

 

Yeah I saw this photo when I was a teenager and he has influence me to take photography as hobby. :)

Better than raising snakes as a hobby.

Alan, no dig intented for the Nastassja Kinski poster after all she may be The celebrity crush of my youth. and beyond.

Sandra Dee was mine. But I'm dating myself.

Sandra Dee was mine. But I'm dating myself.

 

"Dating myself" grows green hair on palm.

I went to an Avedon exhibit around '69 or '70 I'm guessing, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I brought my camera. Edited November 3, 2020 by sjmurray

That is where I first saw the “Chicago Seven” (6 in this case). My first Avedon show. Mpls 1970. Dark general lighting, dramatic. I am envious of you with a camera for it. I didn't start photography for a couple years after.

Nice photo.

Better than raising snakes as a hobby.

 

Interesting choice of words.......;)

I kept a poster of his girl with snake on the wall behind my desk that always got stares.

 

I don't know how he did it, but that snake...it looks like part of it was cut out, yet it's still alive. That's awesome creativity.

very bad photo of cheap poster of avedon photo...wildly bad color...does an injustice to Avedon as well as the poster itself.

It took a bit of getting used to but I very much like a lot of his earlier fashion work, there’s nothing even close to that now. He also did a portrait series as I recall of regular people, very often working class, in different environments that seemed to suit them. Some of his best work I think.

 

Rick H.

This is an excellent article. I aspire to some level of portraiture, and Richard Avedon has provided no small degree of inspiration in this realm. A secondary book to his In The American West portraiture book, Avedon At Work In The American West by (his assistant?), Laura Wilson, is a great read.

 

As an aside, we saw the Netflix film on the Trial Of The Chicago Seven. It's well worth a watch, IMO.

"The American West" , IMHO, is one of the greatest books of its kind ever made, akin to August Sander and Mike Disfarmer. But let's remember that the book came under withering criticism for showing folks as they were rather than some idealized image of cowboys and cowgirls. Reminds me that Robert Frank and Thelonious Monk were also roundly criticized at the time. Chief among the Robert Frank critics was Ansel Adams.

"The American West" , IMHO, is one of the greatest books of its kind ever made, akin to August Sander and Mike Disfarmer. But let's remember that the book came under withering criticism for showing folks as they were rather than some idealized image of cowboys and cowgirls. Reminds me that Robert Frank and Thelonious Monk were also roundly criticized at the time. Chief among the Robert Frank critics was Ansel Adams.

 

I've probably missed quite a lot, but from my limited perspective it seems to me that few visionaries are met with applause at the time of their creations.