Witkin

Witkin makes no apologies for his art nor should he. He is a loathe it or love it kind of master surrealist who layers one assault to reason upon another. The freakish and ethereal images that live in his photos belong to an alien world as much as they exist in this one and in us. It doesn't necessarily take a brave heart to enjoy his work but it does take one that is willing to accept that beauty is capable of thriving even in the inkiest black regions of decay or disfigurement; it dances there, haloed in its own light, while waiting for us to join it.

Art that is capable of eliciting such strong emotions is worthy of our attention and the fight to preserve it.


A Very Sad Book   February 15, 2003
 5 out of 98 found this review helpful

This is a book about a sad man who choses to photograph dead babies and corpses.


Very Highly Recommended - Biggest Visual Impact   January 8, 2003
 15 out of 17 found this review helpful

I appreciate Joel Peter Witkin's photos for a few years, before I can actually own this book finally. This book makes my experience complete.

A comprehensive collection of Joel-Peter Witkin's work, which belongs to the dark side of human. The careful composition of human body, objects and background, sometimes with cross-reference to classical paintings, invites a surreal, poetic, and miserable feeling.

If you only think that his photos are terrible, you need more time and more patience to read his images, through understanding. Extract from what Witkin said - 'When people see my work, there is no 'grey area' of response. What they experience is either love or hate.'

For all photography books I have ever read, this one is the most visual impacting ! Joel Peter Witkin's work is inspiring, original, and creative.

Very highly recommended, if you want to look into our human side.


The Definitive Volume   February 14, 2001
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Be forewarned: Witkin's photographic art is wholly unique and strange and bizarre and macabre.....and wondrous. How often do we really have the courage to face our nightmare demons, real or imagined? Here is an artist who has devoted his life to addressing the dark side of our minds. Yes, these are photographs of "freaks" manipulated to states beyond which even they can go. Some people are put off by these images, finding them cruel and disgusting. But why do these same people pack the theatres and movie houses that continue to grind out rehashed Dracula, Frankenstein, Phantoms of the Opera, and other creatures from the black lagoon of invention? Perhaps the fact that these are photographs and not drawings or paintings makes them fall into the realm of possible rather than make-believe. But here they are, like a sideshow, with incredible presence, lighting, theatrics, and pain. For the unafraid, Witkin's photographs are beautiful. And so is this volume!


The original and best: A master of the Macabre   July 4, 2000
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

Witkin is an extremely original and spiritual artist who never strays from his own personal vision. He also comes recommended by the best: Clive Barker is a fan and Nine Inch Nails made a music video based on his work. His work is often imitated but his unique style which blends the freakshow, the gothic and the baroque with imagery of death and religion, can never be matched. Witkins photographs are often horrific and deeply bizarre but are always beautiful. This book contains the best quality reproductions of a great number of Witkin's photographs that I have ever seen, as well as lengthy and informative essays. I highly recommend it for initiated fans of Witkin or as an introduction to his work.