16th August 2007
The Photographs of Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek was born in 1935 in Prague. He is known in the West as the leading Czech photographer. His work is noted for its portrayal of painterly dream worlds, often showing nude or semi nude figures surrounded by bare plaster walls or painted backdrops. His photographs eco studio and tableaux work of 19th century erotic photographers like Bernard Faucon.
What I love so much about Saudek’s work is the conflict between reality and dreamland. His images often show a brutally natural image against an otherworldly, artificial background. I feel the contrast between these two very opposite themes is extremely effective, and creates a very intriguing effect.
Another aspect of Saudek’s work that I take inspiration from is his use of close-ups, where he focuses on a specific aspect of the human body. ‘The Days of the Sixties’ shows a close up of a female torso being grasped at by the hands of a man. He is digging his nails into her flesh. In this image we see a brutal rawness that is common of Saudek’s work. The image is so close up we can see the veins in the man’s straining hands and the blemishes on the woman’s skins as it is being pulled; it is an unabashed, honest photograph.
By using this method of zooming in, Saudek is creating the impression that he has cropped the image. It is as if the viewer is not allowed to view the whole scene but only what the artist wants us to see. However, I feel that Saudek’s close-ups do not take information away from an image but rather they exaggerate the overall feel of the photograph. I feel that Saudek’s photographs create a certain intimacy with the audience and this I feel particularly engaging.
Jan Saudek encourages me to not be afraid of creating images that are slightly obscure and conflicting. I aspire to creating the intimacy and natural feel, even though it is created in an artificial way, as shown in his images.
The Photographs of Jan Saudek
Jan Saudek was born in 1935 in Prague. He is known in the West as the leading Czech photographer. His work is noted for its portrayal of painterly dream worlds, often showing nude or semi nude figures surrounded by bare plaster walls or painted backdrops. His photographs eco studio and tableaux work of 19th century erotic photographers like Bernard Faucon.
What I love so much about Saudek’s work is the conflict between reality and dreamland. His images often show a brutally natural image against an otherworldly, artificial background. I feel the contrast between these two very opposite themes is extremely effective, and creates a very intriguing effect.
Another aspect of Saudek’s work that I take inspiration from is his use of close-ups, where he focuses on a specific aspect of the human body. ‘The Days of the Sixties’ shows a close up of a female torso being grasped at by the hands of a man. He is digging his nails into her flesh. In this image we see a brutal rawness that is common of Saudek’s work. The image is so close up we can see the veins in the man’s straining hands and the blemishes on the woman’s skins as it is being pulled; it is an unabashed, honest photograph.
By using this method of zooming in, Saudek is creating the impression that he has cropped the image. It is as if the viewer is not allowed to view the whole scene but only what the artist wants us to see. However, I feel that Saudek’s close-ups do not take information away from an image but rather they exaggerate the overall feel of the photograph. I feel that Saudek’s photographs create a certain intimacy with the audience and this I feel particularly engaging.
Jan Saudek encourages me to not be afraid of creating images that are slightly obscure and conflicting. I aspire to creating the intimacy and natural feel, even though it is created in an artificial way, as shown in his images.
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