Joel-Peter Witkin / Vanitas

The American photographer Joel-Peter Witkin (born 1939 in Brooklyn) has been one of the most outstanding representatives in the world of photography since the end of the 1970s. His stylized black and white images are included in all major photography collections around the world. Witkin focuses mainly on still-life and portraiture. His work presents a unique view of the contemporary world and he often works with references to religious themes (the crucifixion, saints, etc.) as well as to classical painting (Francisco Goya, Odilon Redon, Joan Miró, Hieronymus Bosch, etc.). His art has influenced a number of other artists (e. g. Erwin Olaf, Jake and Dinos Chapman) and musicians (Diamanda Galás, Trent Reznor). Also thanks to the work of Joel-Peter Witkin the concept of decadence and the decadent has recently emerged more and more in relation to contemporary art. The book represents a cross section of the artist’s work since the 1970s to the present. In addition to photographs, lesser-known drawings and paintings are also included in the book. For the very first time, this monograph presents a collection of Witkin’s latest photographs, his retablos, created over the last three years. The monograph, in English and in Czech, with a text by the art historian Otto M. Urban summarizes the development of Witkin’s life and work.