Photographer Abe Frajndlich undertook to photograph the legends within his own craft back in 1988, including Gerhard Richter, Dennis Hopper and Cindy Sherman...
Photographer Abe Frajndlich undertook to photograph the legends within his own craft back in 1988, when he was commissioned by Life Magazine to take portraits of the “Grandes Dames” of photography. This soon expanded to include the “Old Boys” as well, and thenceforth became an all-encompassing 30-year quest, requiring as much patience and persistence as that shown by Penelope during Odysseus’s epic journey home. The result is a comprehensive compendium of key figures in photography from the last 50-years, grouped under a title that directly references the Homeric flavour Frajndlich gave to his mission – Penelope’s Hungry Eyes.
"Photographers make notoriously difficult subjects, knowing all the tricks that can obfuscate a photograph to leave it blank"
Turning the lens onto those more used to wielding it is always a delight, since while many of these individuals have created some of the most memorable imagery of the past century; their faces have often remained unknown. Yet Frajndlich takes his project one step further – not merely exposing the identities of his subjects, but imbuing each photograph with the personality and soul of the individual now unconventionally taking centre stage. Epic propagandist Leni Reifenstahl is shown dwarfed by one of her early film posters, fashion photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe is tucked away in her walk-in wardrobe, ablaze in leopard print, and the many personalities of Cindy Sherman are stripped away in a bare-faced close-up, yet as her eyes are shut she remains somehow concealed. On other occasions, Frajndlich’s ideas were less successful. Gerhard Richter refused to engage in the concept, insisting his secretary took his place amid a geometric multicoloured rug, while he stood above her, nonchalantly smoking a cigarette.
Photographers make notoriously difficult subjects, knowing all the tricks that can obfuscate a photograph to leave it blank. It is a testament to Frajndlich’s unique skill that every page of this anthology is alive with personality. Subjects snap to life on the page, expressing what matters to them in their craft: some request privacy and turn away, some use magnifying glasses or knives to draw attention to their eyes, the most essential tool of any photographer, and others relax, à la Dennis Hopper, starring coolly into the camera, revelling in having the tables turned.
Abe Frajndlich: Penelope's Hungry Eyes is out now, published by Schirmer/Mosel Verlag.
