If you are interested in photography, especially taking pictures of people, then I highly recommend seeing the current exhibit of Arthur Newman’s black and white photos at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Newman was an American photographer born in New York City in 1918. He is known for his work with portraits, especially with ‘environmental portraits’. These are images that are much more than head shots as they include context that provides further information about the subject. Often the location or the accessories used in the shot were more dominant than the person being photographed.
Keep in mind that these are pictures of framed photographs hung in a room with low light, i.e. they are much better in real life.
below left: Michel Tapie, art critic and curator
below right: Georges Mathieu, French painter
below top: from left to right – Phillip Glass 1981 composer, artist Roy Lichtenstein 1975, and Annie & Josef Albers 1976 (also artists)
below bottom: (all painters) from left to right – Edward Hopper 1960, Richard Artschwager 1987, and Lily Michaels 1959. The image that is only partially shown is of Martha Graham, dancer and choreographer taken in 1961.
below: Israeli artist Moshe Kupferman, taken 1982
below left: Abstract image in home of Yechiel and Haviva Shemi, 1982
below right: Allen Ginsberg, poet, 1985
below: Jean Arp, sculptor, 1949
below left: Jean Cocteau, 1960, writer and visual artist
below right: Yaacov Agam, sculptor, 1966
below left: Julio La Parc, artist, 1967
below right: Lee Krasner, artist 1973
below: John Hay Whitney, taken 1947. Whitney was chairman of the board at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City.
below: Priscilla Colt and Thomas C. Colt Jr., 1950, museum directors, Portland Art Museum, Oregon.
Unfortunately this show ends this weekend, on the 21st of January. I didn’t realize that it was ending so soon so I am glad that I caught it when I did.
as I walk Toronto 