August 12, 2004
Art imitates photography?
Maira Kalman, "Blue Wall/Red Hair" (2004)/Julie Saul Gallery
Alec Soth, "New Orleans, Louisiana" (2003)
I was pleasantly surprised to see this cool illustration of one of Alec Soth's photos in the August 2 issue of The New Yorker. But then I was appalled to realize that neither The New Yorker nor the illustrator credited Soth as the originator of the image.
When I asked Alec Soth about it, he wrote back:
"The New Yorker did call and ask for permission regarding the Kalman
illustration. I said it was okay. But it would have been nice to have
received a little credit. Oh well."
What an easy-going, good-natured guy.
Comments
when i saw this illustration in the New Yorker, i made the exact connection: this illustration is just like one of Alec's photographs! I thought, however, it was an uncanny coincidence. (for life/art is like that...). It's nice to hear the story, though Alec should have received his due credit. And after seeing the two images side-by-side, i can tell this is no coincidence - they are too similiar (for art/life is not that exact!)
dear jim casper,
no need to be appalled. we, of course, talked to alex & he knew all about maira's illustration & our publication of it before it appeared in the magazine & we was delighted and thrilled. glad you liked it and glad you are watching out for photographers. e.
elisabeth biondi
212.286.5937