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Robert Mapplethorpe
Known for his steamy and luxurious photographs of nudes, Mapplethorpe has observed of his work that it "is about seeing--seeing things like they haven't been seen before." 45 color and 85 duotone illustrations.
16 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1988
80 people want to read
About the author
Robert Mapplethorpe
70 books65 followersRobert Mapplethorpe was an American photographer whose mastery of black-and-white composition and provocative subject matter made him a central, often polarizing, figure in 20th-century art. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in a strict Catholic household, he studied graphic arts at the Pratt Institute before immersing himself in the vibrant 1960s Manhattan art scene. During this time, he began a lifelong creative partnership and friendship with musician Patti Smith, an association that would prove foundational to both of their careers.
Mapplethorpe’s early work utilized Polaroid photography, but his practice evolved significantly after meeting curator and mentor Sam Wagstaff in 1972. By the mid-1970s, he had adopted the Hasselblad medium-format camera, using its precision to explore subjects ranging from statuesque nudes and delicate still-life flowers—most notably orchids and calla lilies—to formal portraits of celebrities like Andy Warhol and Debbie Harry. However, he is perhaps most famous for his unflinching documentation of New York’s gay BDSM subculture. His work in this area sought to imbue the erotic with the grandeur and nobility of classical sculpture, often utilizing highly formal, statuesque compositions that referenced religious and Renaissance imagery.
Posthumously, Mapplethorpe became a catalyst for the American "culture wars." His 1989 traveling exhibition, The Perfect Moment, sparked a fierce national debate over public funding for the arts and the constitutional limits of free speech. The controversy led to the Corcoran Gallery of Art canceling the show and resulted in an obscenity trial for the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, though the museum was eventually acquitted.
Mapplethorpe died at age 42 from complications related to HIV/AIDS. Before his passing, he established the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation to protect his legacy and fund medical research for HIV/AIDS treatment. Today, his work is held in major institutional collections, including the Guggenheim and the Getty Museum, where it continues to be celebrated for its technical perfection and its bold exploration of the human form and sexual identity.
Mapplethorpe’s early work utilized Polaroid photography, but his practice evolved significantly after meeting curator and mentor Sam Wagstaff in 1972. By the mid-1970s, he had adopted the Hasselblad medium-format camera, using its precision to explore subjects ranging from statuesque nudes and delicate still-life flowers—most notably orchids and calla lilies—to formal portraits of celebrities like Andy Warhol and Debbie Harry. However, he is perhaps most famous for his unflinching documentation of New York’s gay BDSM subculture. His work in this area sought to imbue the erotic with the grandeur and nobility of classical sculpture, often utilizing highly formal, statuesque compositions that referenced religious and Renaissance imagery.
Posthumously, Mapplethorpe became a catalyst for the American "culture wars." His 1989 traveling exhibition, The Perfect Moment, sparked a fierce national debate over public funding for the arts and the constitutional limits of free speech. The controversy led to the Corcoran Gallery of Art canceling the show and resulted in an obscenity trial for the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, though the museum was eventually acquitted.
Mapplethorpe died at age 42 from complications related to HIV/AIDS. Before his passing, he established the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation to protect his legacy and fund medical research for HIV/AIDS treatment. Today, his work is held in major institutional collections, including the Guggenheim and the Getty Museum, where it continues to be celebrated for its technical perfection and its bold exploration of the human form and sexual identity.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 20, 2017
Loved the art and the background. Mapplethorpe is like fine wine, you have to clear your mental palate to enjoy it fully.
December 9, 2019
His unexpected romance with Patti Smith changed punk, art, and poetry forever
November 21, 2022
One of my favorite book finds all year was lucking up on this pristine Mapplethorpe for $7 😭
October 18, 2015
Great photographs, obviously, it's Mapplethorpe.
But I can't determine how this Japanese edition was created. Is it pirated from another edition? If so, from which one? The page length and number of photos don't match any other book in English that I can find. Maybe it is a selection from several other books. And the Introduction doesn't seem to be written specifically for this book. Odd. A mystery.
But I can't determine how this Japanese edition was created. Is it pirated from another edition? If so, from which one? The page length and number of photos don't match any other book in English that I can find. Maybe it is a selection from several other books. And the Introduction doesn't seem to be written specifically for this book. Odd. A mystery.
March 3, 2013
Beautiful! It's my only coffee table book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews