Elliott Erwitt; Museum Watching

by Elliott Erwitt, Magnum Photos Ltd

Describing himself as 'a professional photographer by trade and an amateur photographer by vocation', the ever-popular Elliott Erwitt (b.1928) prizes his personal snaps above all his work. When otherwise idle in New York or with spare time on his hands during his frequent travels, Erwitt indulges himself at museums and art exhibitions, contemplating works of art, watching people and taking pictures. In Museum Watching , Erwitt presents his visual observations on the museum together for the first time in book form, including photographs from the late 1950s through to 1999. In this affectionate, wry and personal album, illuminated by his own text, Elliott entertains us by means of his conversation with art, making visual puns, tweaking a few noses and occasionally passing more serious comment. As museum-visiting establishes itself as far more popular than attending sports events, and with the big art show becoming serious business, Erwitt's gentle humour provides not only the perfect antidote, but a subtly perceptive insight into the relationship between people and art, and people and their own selves.

Genres: Photography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 1999

About the author

Elliott Erwitt (born Elio Romano Erwitz) is an advertising and journalistic photographer known for his black and white candid shots of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings -- the master of the "indecisive moment".

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographs of museums and galleries, the art and people who visit and work there. Taken between the 50's and 90's, from around the globe. One page introductions every so often gather the photos into themes. Most have an element of humour in them. There is one with a group visitors looking at a notice within an empty frame, presumably explaining what the missing canvas was; next to them, a man looks out from his painting, the direction of his gaze appearing to be towards the group of people, the look on his face implying 'But there's nothing there. Look over here! I am worth looking at, not that empty frame!'

[dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un progetto che pure io ho cullato, che qui si muove in maniera ordinata (forse troppo?) per sotto-temi, giovandosi di un'opportunità di viaggio rara per l'epoca in cui ha lavorato Erwitt. Grande padronanza del mezzo, alcune immagini sono dei veri classici.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal favorite: Museo del Prado, Madrid, 1995 on page 85