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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.
4 Comments
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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
Elisabeth, his name is ALEC not ALEX. Your copy editing dept is stellar. Get them to review your blog comments.
I dunno. Alec's quote in this post doesn't quite indicate `delighted and thrilled` to me.
Does Alec credit the painter of the portrait in his photograph when reprinted?