Assignment I: Joel Peter Witkin

Witkin’s work is something that definitely makes you stop and stare, do double-takes or slightly tilt your head, slack jawed and all. He takes extreme imperfections (to which we are rarely ever exposed to) to a whole new level and still manages to express beauty and balance. His studies in deformities, amputation and hermaphrodite conditions open your eyes to a whole new art form.

Aside from obvious collaging techniques and other superimpositions using the ‘limitations’ of negatives and darkroom printing, it is very clear that Witkin’s photographs are very painterly. He has a vision, he draws it out on paper and then executes through use of camera, film, and darkroom. They often have characteristics or slight immitations of historical renaissance paintings from various famous artists, all playing with ideas of beauty and serenity. His lighting is very well thought out; it’s mostly studio lighting and often pretty contrasty.