Midlife: Photographs by Elinor Carucci

by Elinor Carucci, Kristen Roupenian (Foreword)

From acclaimed photographer Elinor Carucci, a vivid chronicle of one woman's passage through aging, family, illness, and intimacy. It is a period in life that is universal, at some point, to everyone, yet in our day-to-day and cultural dialogue, nearly invisible. Midlife is a moving and empathetic portrait of an artist at the point in her life when inexorable change is more apparent than ever. Elinor Carucci, whose work has been collected in the previous acclaimed volumes Closer (2002, 2009) and Mother (2013), continues her immersive and close-up examination of her own life in this volume, portraying this moment in vibrant detail. As one of the most autobiographically rigorous photographers of her generation, Carucci recruits and revisits the same members of her family that we have seen since her work gained prominence two decades ago. Even as we observe telling details--graying hair, the pressures and joys of marriage, episodes of pronounced illness, the evolution of her aging parents' roles as grandparents, her children's increasing independence--we are invited to reflect on the experiences that we all share contending with the challenges of life, love, and change.

Genres: Photography

132 pages, Hardcover

Published October 8, 2019

Reviews

[Lisa Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of Elinor's previous book, Closer. This is a natural evolution of her style--close up with the intimacy and (sometimes) indignity of midlife. Gorgeous work, there is really no one else out there like her, in my opinion.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and powerful.

[Beth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this project of making visible the process of increased invisibility (at least for women) through page after page of stunning (for a variety of reason) images. It casts midlife in such a beautiful light. The words are also lovely. Any chance to quote Agnes Martin is a win.

[Meharvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerfully intimate glimpse of humanity.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first look at the artist's work. Thoughtful. Compelling. I'm glad she explained the Red series in the Afterword. This family sure gets naked together a lot. I will look back at more of her work.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating generational photos.

[laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

admittedly, there isn't much text and i skipped the forward since it was written by someone else. all that said, i love this book and i'm so glad it exists. i think about my mom a lot after viewing this, and every woman, every person, really, in their midlife years. aging is so beautiful, i love being able to see an honest and welcoming representation of it.