In The American West

Arthurwg · Jun 2, 2025

Alex Benjamin said:
Richard Avedon, by Irving Penn

What a great portrait. I'd say that part of the story is revealed in this picture. He's obviously hiding, obviously scared. And I believe he envied Penn's happy marriage, something he could not have himself. Penn proved that you don't have to be deeply neurotic and unhappy to be an artistic genius.

Pieter12 · Jun 2, 2025

Arthurwg said:
What a great portrait. I'd say that part of the story is revealed in this picture. He's obviously hiding, obviously scared. And I believe he envied Penn's happy marriage, something he could not have himself. Penn proved that you don't have to be deeply neurotic and unhappy to be an artistic genius.

In Norma Stevens' Something Personal, Avedon is described as spending the better part of an hour studying himself in the mirror, making faces and rehearsing poses for this picture. The photo shows Avedon as he wanted to be portrayed, he intended it to be a parody of a Penn portrait. Penn was apparently nervous and physically upset during the shoot.

Alan Edward Klein · Jun 2, 2025

DREW WILEY said:
Alan - I double checked on Google Earth. That aerial shot does indeed look like the Mt Taylor area southwest of Albuquerque in New Mexico. It's actually in south central NM. Mt Taylor is an extinct volcano over 11,000 ft high, so winter snow would be typical. The long straight lava flow to its south is a Natl Monument.

That would make sense. The Rockies of NM. Tks.

In The American West

Arthurwg

Pieter12

Alan Edward Klein

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