Weston/Modotti?

cmacmail · Jan 10, 2005

Weston/Modotti? Revised with jpg attached

Hi,

I have an Arts et Metier "Photographie" annual from 1936. There is an index listing photographer, hometown, subject and occasionally info about camera, exposure etc.

There is a gravure in there which is in the index as "X.....". No photographer, subject...nothing.

I may be going nuts, but I'm convinced that it is a portrait of Tina Modotti by Edward Weston.

I've attached a jpg, can someone put me out of my misery?

Regards,
Charles

papagene · Jan 10, 2005

cmacmail said:
In the meantime, can someone put me out of my misery?

Regards,
Charles

Charles,
I hope that you are asking us to "set your mind at ease," rather than "put you out of your misery."
When you get a chance, please post the gravure and I am sure someone on this site can help you.
We're a friendly bunch here at APUG, and we generally don't put people out of their misery.

gene

garryl · Jan 10, 2005

Edward and Tina had broken up by then. So it would have to be a reprint of an old photo. But won't know till you post the picture.

cmacmail · Jan 11, 2005

The "break up" may be the reason for the anonimity, the "X...". Weston contributed numerous images to this publication, and this looks like a more calm and sedate version of earlier images like "Tina Reciting" etc.

I'm aware that I'm busy talking myself into this, but regardless of who actually made this image, the resemblance is striking.

garryl · Jan 11, 2005

Well here is the closes simular pose of Tina I found--

http://peoples.ru/art/photo/modotti/

I think it is Tina.

John Koehrer · Jan 12, 2005

A strong resemblance, yes. I believe Tina had more rounded earlobes & slighty less arched eyebrows. (pg 215 Tina Modotti Photographer and Revolutionary) I don't think anyone can know for sure.

Chazzy · Jan 12, 2005

While we are on the subject of Weston and Modotti, here's what I don't understand. Here we have a very ordinary-looking, middle-aged guy, who apparently never lacked for beautiful young women who wanted to pose for him and be his lovers. What the heck was his secret? When do I get someone like Tina Modotti or Charis Wilson?

Claire Senft · Jan 12, 2005

I will tell you his secret

Every photographer has a secret. Edward Weston's was pyrogallo and a total lack of responsibilty to his family. I doubt that any woman could long compete with his love of his dry mounting press.

garryl · Jan 12, 2005

Remember that we only have the "Daybooks" as reference. Edward removed the names of his conquests, so we don't know who to ask to give their side of the story.
We only have conclusive evidence of 5 women- his wife, Margaret Mather, Tina,Dodi, and Charis.

photomc · Jan 12, 2005

Claire Senft said:
....and a total lack of responsibilty to his family..

in your opinion...the fact he maintained a good relationship with his sons, seems counter to that comment.

Aggie · Jan 12, 2005

Garry you fogot his first wife!

rbarker · Jan 12, 2005

I also believe that one must view these situations within the context of the times and their associated social values. Weston was playing around during a period of considerable personal exploration following a period of considerable repression - particularly with respect to womens' rights and such. In contrast, the '50s were more "traditional", motherhood and apple-pie oriented, and the '60s much wilder. But, back when I was doing cave paintings in the south of France, it was very difficult to get women to take off their wooly rhino robes.

Nick Zentena · Jan 12, 2005

I think it's the 5x7 graflex.

Chazzy · Jan 12, 2005

Nick Zentena said:
I think it's the 5x7 graflex.

If a 5x7 Graflex is a babe magnet, I'm getting one.

From what I've read, Weston was often short on money, so that's not what women saw in him. Maybe it was just that he moved in "artsy" circles, where women were attracted to his undeniable genius and celebrity status.

Chazzy · Jan 12, 2005

Claire Senft said:
Every photographer has a secret. Edward Weston's was pyrogallo and a total lack of responsibilty to his family. I doubt that any woman could long compete with his love of his dry mounting press.

As a divorced man, I'm in no position to point figures about his "lack of responsibility to his family." But it hit me like a bolt of lightning when I was reading the Daybooks and got to the bit about his first wife sending him money while he was shacked up with Tina in Mexico. She must have been very loyal to do that. I can't imagine my ex-wife doing that. I wish they could have worked things out. But now I'm starting to ramble or preach, or maybe both.

garryl · Jan 12, 2005

Aggie said:
Garry you fogot his first wife!

First wife? I only know of one other than Charis. Did he have three? Am I getting that forgetful?

Aggie · Jan 12, 2005

you're right, only two. But listen to the interview of Francis Baer that lenswork has. You will have your eyes opened about him. She was his last housekeeper.

Michael A. Smith · Jan 12, 2005

Edward Weston was always very close to his family--his sons. In his life they came before his women. And his women: really there were very few. And most were when he was single--between the time when he left Flora and when he got together with Charis. And by the standards of the late 1960s and 1970s Weson was virtually celibate. Almost all of the women in his life remained close friends forever--which says something about his relationship with them. And, of course, his sons were very close to him.

Why were women so attracted to him? It wasn't looks or money or even fame. By the time he was famous he was with Charis--who was his last romantic partner. It was that he was a deep and sensitive human being--someone who was passionately involved in his work and someone who cared deeply about other people. It is a truism that you get what you give. Woman were attracted to him because he gave of himself a great deal.

Charles Webb · Jan 12, 2005

Perhaps I shouldent ask a question on this Weston-Moditi thread, but I am seeing such a world of knowledge being expressed here on this subject that I ask you to forgive me if I am wrong in posting my question here.

Several years ago maybe twenty or more, I remember an advertisement for a book that I think was about Edward and one of his models. She was I believe from Norway, Sweden or somewhere in scandanavia. Any way the book featured images Weston had made of her much like Tina I suppose. I have never seen the publication and cannot find it listed anywhere. I have a strong interest in Weston's work and would like to know for certain that I did not dream up such a book. So am asking do any of you know about this
book. The name Dodi was mentioned in one of the posts, I do not recognize that name, and have seen no images that I know of, of her.

Michael A. Smith · Jan 12, 2005

Charles, you are dreaming that book. It does not exist.

Dody Weston Thompson was Edward's last assistant and became Brett Weston's wife. She knows more about Edward today than anyone alive with the exception of Charis. Dody just wrote a greatly revised and expanded version of her essay about her time as Edward's assistant and about Edward that first appeared in The Malahat Review in 1970. This updated essay can be found in the book I recently published, Edward Weston: Life Work. Information about the book can be found at www.lodimapress.com. In her essay Dody refutes a number of the myths and popular misconceptions about Edward that abound today (among them the one that he abandoned his family). Dody is an excellent writer and her essay is definitely worth reading.

Bill Mitchell · Jan 12, 2005

cmacmail said:
Hi,

I may be going nuts, but I'm convinced that it is a portrait of Tina Modotti by Edward Weston.

I've attached a jpg, can someone put me out of my misery?

It isn't Tina. This one has a Roman nose and the earlobes don't match.

Bill Mitchell · Jan 12, 2005

garryl said:
Remember that we only have the "Daybooks" as reference. Edward removed the names of his conquests, so we don't know who to ask to give their side of the story.
We only have conclusive evidence of 5 women- his wife, Margaret Mather, Tina,Dodi, and Charis.

In Charis Weston's book "Through Another Lens" she and Weston were comparing sexual experiences, and both had about the same amount. I can't find the exact reference, but as I recall it was about 18 each. Much less than she'd expected of him (he was 50, she was 20)

As to "why?" When Ruth Bernard was asked for her impression of Weston, she answered, " He was the best F*** I ever had." Which may explain his popularity.

Bill Mitchell · Jan 13, 2005

In Charis Weston's book "Through Another Lens" she and Weston were comparing sexual experiences, and both had about the same amount.

I found the reference on page 44. It was actually 24 experiences, including an unsatisfactory homosexual one with his friend Ramiel.

Ed Sukach · Jan 13, 2005

My guess is that it is a portrait by Edward Weston, of Sonya Noskowiak ... "His mistress and pupil between the years 1927 and 1935 in California.." *

Looks like her.

* from "Edward Weston - Forms of Passion"

Ed Sukach · Jan 13, 2005

A scan of a Sonya Noskowiak photo by Edward Weston:

Weston/Modotti?

cmacmail

Attachments

papagene

Membership Council

garryl

cmacmail

garryl

John Koehrer

Chazzy

Claire Senft

garryl

photomc

Aggie

rbarker

Nick Zentena

Chazzy

Chazzy

garryl

Aggie

Michael A. Smith

Charles Webb

Michael A. Smith

Bill Mitchell

Bill Mitchell

Bill Mitchell

Ed Sukach

Ed Sukach

Weston/Modotti?

Attachments

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency