Monsters: Human Freaks in America's Gilded Age: The Photographs of Chas Eisenmann

by Charles Eisenmann, Michael Mitchell (Editor)

Called "monsters" by the medical profession, the subjects of this photographic collection made their living appearing in circuses, side shows, and living museums across America from the 1880s through the 1890s. Photographer Charles Eisenmann captured the images of these unusual people within his New York studio apartment. Originally released in 1979, this new edition includes the 80 original images and background information to place the subject of each performer within America's Gilded Age. Also included is a discussion of Eisenmann's photographic techniques.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, History

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Sakura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating snapshot of a brief cultural moment, when extraordinary sideshow performers hastened to Charles Eisenmann’s Bowery studio to sit for their photographic portraits.

This book sets the social context and critiques Eisenmann’s staging, props and posing of his subjects. There’s a tendency with exceptional subjects to only focus on the sitters but so much more information can be teased out when your attention is drawn to every element within the frame.
As such, this is book is as much about early photography as it is sideshow attractions.

The performers themselves are obviously interesting and we can see that many were able to lead happy and successful lives though the sideshow life.
However there are also some sitters who reach through the lens to affect the modern eye with almost unbearable poignancy.