Robert Mapplethorpe: The Photographs - Hardcover

Martineau, Paul; Salvesen, Britt

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 160606469X ISBN 13: 9781606064696

Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2016

Synopsis

This fascinating collection of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photographs contains over 250 striking images — from florals to portraits from nudes to still lifes, as well as images from his controversial X Portfolio 

“...an indispensable publication of lasting significance...”—ARTFIXdaily 

“Authoritative and indispensable.”—Bay Area Reporter 

The legacy of Robert Mapplethorpe (1946 –1989) is rich and complicated, triggering controversy, polarizing critics, and providing inspiration for many artists who followed him. Mapplethorpe taught himself about the history of art, how to run a studio, how to network, and how to keep the public interested in him. At the same time, he honed a distinctive individual vision based on craftsmanship and an aesthetic of classical grace. One of the most influential figures of his time, today Mapplethorpe stands as an example to emerging photographers who continue to test boundaries and concepts of the beautiful.

Robert Mapplethorpe: The Photographs offers a timely and rewarding examination of his oeuvre and influence. Drawing from the extraordinary collection jointly acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, as well as the Mapplethorpe Archive housed at the Getty Research Institute, the authors were given the unique opportunity to explore new resources and present fresh perspectives. The result is a fascinating exploration of Mapplethorpe’s career and legacy, with in-depth essays on sexuality and identity, all accompanied by more than 250 striking images covering the remarkable range of his photographic work – from florals to portraits from nudes to still lifes, as well as the controversial X Portfolio. All of these beautifully integrated elements contribute to what is an essential point of access to Mapplethorpe’s work and practice.

About this title

About the Author

Paul Martineau is associate curator in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Britt Salvesen is curator and head of the Wallis Annenberg Photography Department and the Prints and Drawings Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
 

Review

"Robert Mapplethorpe: The Photographs is a tremendous study of the artist's legacy, providing personal, professional, political, and aesthetic frames by which to consider his work. As straightforward as his photographs are, the depth of the work is astounding, revealing the multitude of layers that exist beneath the surface." -- Crave

"Though dead for over a quarter-century, photographer Mapplethorpe remains a scandalous provocateur. With the extraordinary collection acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the LA County Museum of Art, Martineau and Salvesen invite us to reconsider Mapplethorpe as an artist, providing a rich selection covering the remarkable range of his work, including the notorious S/M pictures but also the less well-known landscapes. Five in-depth essays explore sexuality and identity. With an illustrated chronology of his life and art, the book is both authoritative and indispensable." -- The Bay Area Reporter

About this edition

• Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 160606469X
• ISBN 13: 9781606064696
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 340