Walker Evans by Leo Rubinfien (link)
Walker Evans
An excellent article on Walker Evans. I knew he was a curmudgeon in life, but not that he was in his art. I took some notes, wrote some aphorisms as I was reading this:
1
His method was gathered from Flaubert. A meticulous hard gaze at the subject. A slow stocktake of what is there. But his meaning came from Baudelaire, the ‘spleen’, the distaste of what exists. Although, really it comes from a sadness in a culture where he is alien. Where he is uncomfortable, unloved, and unsuccessful.
2
He looked closely, and with hatred.
3
The second vainest man at his high school, he deplored what he couldn’t have. He railed against the poor, who have an authenticity, a care-freeness, and he railed against the rich, who have ease, culture, and respect. He was however, only the second vainest.
3
The spurned lover of life he was Miss Havisham with a camera.
4
Society always later misunderstands its artists for saints. And misunderstands its philosophers later as misanthropes. Society is right of course. During their lives, it is the other way around.
5
His revelation, that even a non style is a style, is a person, is the photographer. Austere, haughty, cold, calculating, hidden. He printed himself into books.
6
He always arrived late to the party. The beer was drunk and all the girls had paired off and were making noises in the bedrooms. He kicks down the mailbox and drives home longing and mournful. Is it him?
7
Using his hatred, his distaste as a great shield he walked off into America like Achillies. His heel was that he loved life.
8
Why don’t people realise that one must bite hardest at the hands that feeds it? Of course with soft, regretful eyes.
9
A physician, he burrowed through to the cause, rather than be distracted with symptoms. An axe murder he did harm.
10
By removing himself from the picture. He thought he could avoid success. He nearly did.
11
Walker Evans was a bright, sharp, piece of trash.
How awesome is AmericansuburbX? Really awesome. It has great taste. And with that taste it’s collecting articles and interviews which are interesting.
Posted 2 years ago
