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“All my first models, Dorian Leigh, Elise Daniels, Carmen, Marella Agnelli, Audrey Hepburn, were brunettes and had fine noses, long throats, oval faces. They were all memories of my sister. My sense of what was beautiful was established very early through the way in which I experienced her. I photographed her from 14 to 18. She was the prototype of what I considered beautiful in my early years as a photographer.”
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“There’s always been a separation between fashion and what I call my ‘deeper’ work. Fashion is where I make my living. I’m not knocking it. It’s a pleasure to make a living that way. It’s pleasure and then there’s the deeper pleasure of doing my portraits. It’s not important what I consider myself to be, but I consider myself to be a portrait photographer.”
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c“My photographs don’t go below the surface. They don’t go below anything. They’re readings of the surface. I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues. But whenever I become absorbed in the beauty of a face, in the excellence of a single feature, I feel I’ve lost what’s really there … been seduced by someone else’s standard of beauty or by the sitter’s own idea of the best in him. That’s not usually the best. So each sitting becomes a contest.”
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photos: Richard Avedon; quotes by Richard Avedon, via the The Richard Avedon Foundation; the first one originally appeared in “An Interview with Richard Avedon” by Nicole Wisniak, Egoïste (September, 1984); 2nd quote (1974); 3d quote (1980)
These are so very beautiful! I particularly love the dramatic Elizabeth Taylor portrait – I wouldn’t expect anything less with her as the subject!
Beautiful post! Although I still think that his photos do have an ability to take us under the surface or at least wish we could read the mind of people he photographed. He is such an incredible artist!
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All I can say is that Avedon’s sister must have been really beautiful! Who doesn’t love a brunette! Portrait work is always so fascinating – a glimpse through the lens or on canvas of someone else’s view of the subject. Beautiful images! x:)
This is such a beautiful collection of portraits! “I have great faith in surfaces. A good one is full of clues”: very interesting quote and like the rest of the texts you shered with us, it shows a great sensibility.
I adore the shot of Audrey! These are all such raw + beautiful shots xx
One of my favourite photographers without a doubt… and the one of Audrey Hepburn is hanging in my room (slightly adolescent of me yes!)
Paola
http://www.ThePvdHJournal.com
Am a huge fan of Richard Avedon!
I’m such a fan. Also, so interesting to know how his idea of beauty was shaped. I guess he must have loved his sister
Hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday! xoxo
I love his quote, there is a lot of wisdom in that.
Stunning portraiture – you feel he really captured the essence of the sitter – the one of marilyn is really quite haunting xx
One Word Iconic!
Thanks for sharing!
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