Lucien Clerge Exhibition
Throckmorton Fine Art
This event has ended.
The gallery offers an exhibit of work by France’s greatest living photographer—Lucien Clergue. The exhibit consists of 35 photographs from throughout his lengthy career, all portraying one of his cherished subjects—the female nude. The works are in black-and-white. Many nudes are set in either water or sand, both of which are drawn on to accentuate the sculptural qualities of the human body. Clergue is inventive, a master of composition and of the use of light and shadow. The resulting images look effortless and natural; they are clean, sensuous yet pure, and attain a quiet, understated elegance. Jean Cocteau described Clergue as “a poet with a camera.” Pablo Picasso proclaimed Clergue “the Monet of the camera.” The first collector of his work was Max Ernst. Great artists recognize their brethren—and the images exhibited here also testify that Clergue is an accomplished artist. Clergue, however, has not been as well known in the United States as he is in Europe. This exhibit is an effort to build at least a small bridge across the Atlantic Ocean. Clergue was born in 1934 in Arles, an ancient port city. He is rooted in Mediterranean culture. He began taking photographs in 1953—at the age of just nineteen. He quickly achieved renown, but he declined offers from Paris-Match and Vogue, adhering to a vocation as an artist. Even after five decades of labor, his enthusiasm is tireless and he retains a gift for growth. He has stayed close to Arles, but he always sees something new, and he keeps working. His illustrious admirer and friend, Picasso, would be proud.
[Image: Lucien Clergue "Nu Zebre" (1997) gelatin silver print 16 x 11 in.]
Media
Schedule
from April 29, 2010 to July 03, 2010