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Elliott Erwitt: Icons
Edited by Biba Giacchetti.
This volume assembles a selection of truly classic photographs of twentieth-century icons, taken by the iconic Magnum photographer himself, Elliott Erwitt (born 1928). Both the characters and the images in this book are historic, from Erwitt’s portrayals of the grieving Kennedys to Richard Nixon’s infamous confrontation with Nikita Krushchev to a confident, optimistic Che Guevara smoking a cigar. Icons also includes portraits of the non-political celebrities of the past century--Grace Kelly, or Marilyn Monroe caught in a quiet moment, reading--as well as his popular, humorous images of pampered dogs. This book offers the essence of Erwitt’s work: its romantic strength and surreal absurdity that became part and parcel of post–World War II consciousness. It also includes a previously unpublished interview with Erwitt in which he offers personal commentary on each image and recaps his long career as a photographer.
Featured image, reproduced from Elliott Erwitt: Icons, was taken in New York in 1999. Erwitt writes, "This is a portrait of a very special dog, a greyhound with a Balenciaga couture flower. The snap was taken here in my studio in New York for a tribute dedicated to the editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar. It had to be an all-white issue, it was actually called the white issue, and all of the photographs had to be white.
"These photographs are found in museum collections all over the world, hung up in teenagers' rooms, printed on postcards and book covers and used by newspapers on all of the continents.
They are icons that unleash a collective fever, like the celebrated photo of the mirror. Or that even end up printed on pillows, like the one of the Great Dane and the boots...
Elliott Erwitt, with his observations of people and dogs, of historical world events or of celebrities, makes us think, often while also enjoying ourselves.
His photos invite us.
They are universal.
And we can never get enough of them.
As Elliott would say: 'You are looking at a photograph that is looking at you.'"
Excerpt is from Biba Giachetti's introduction to Icons.
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FORMAT: Pbk, 9 x 11 in. / 96 pgs / 48 duotone. LIST PRICE: U.S. $35.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $40 ISBN: 9788836623273 PUBLISHER: Silvana Editoriale AVAILABLE: 10/31/2012 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of print AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: NA LA ASIA AU/NZ AFR ME
Published by Silvana Editoriale. Edited by Biba Giacchetti.
This volume assembles a selection of truly classic photographs of twentieth-century icons, taken by the iconic Magnum photographer himself, Elliott Erwitt (born 1928). Both the characters and the images in this book are historic, from Erwitt’s portrayals of the grieving Kennedys to Richard Nixon’s infamous confrontation with Nikita Krushchev to a confident, optimistic Che Guevara smoking a cigar. Icons also includes portraits of the non-political celebrities of the past century--Grace Kelly, or Marilyn Monroe caught in a quiet moment, reading--as well as his popular, humorous images of pampered dogs. This book offers the essence of Erwitt’s work: its romantic strength and surreal absurdity that became part and parcel of post–World War II consciousness. It also includes a previously unpublished interview with Erwitt in which he offers personal commentary on each image and recaps his long career as a photographer.
