Thanks Malcolm. There is a short film that re-enacts some of his photos, particularly the more fetishy stuff that I didn’t go into. Interesting guy but difficult to get a handle on.
This was a really powerful read, and the images are just gorgeous. That final one of Outerbridge on the beach is steeped in so much emotion. That he appears content is so touching. Thanks, Neil.
Wow, what a fascinating story, I love his work. I can't comprehend how a commercial photographer's style can fall out of fashion. I'll definitely dig deeper into hus work and story. Thanks so much for the shoutout!
That roll of toilet paper in the roses is almost upsettingly beautiful. The demise of Outerbridge's art as you describe it due to an easier technique reminds me a bit of what happened to the art of engraving. It was totally supplanted by the rise of etching using acids, pretty much by the 17th century onwards. Before then, painters would take up the engravers burin and risk cutting fingers off; afterwards, they went for the much easier technique which gets acids to do the job. Engraving did survive in the form of mass-printed things, (e.g. Gillray and some antiquarian illustrations) but it remains dead as a mode of 'fine art' expression. I don't know any contemporary artists that practice the art and a master printmaker told me you'd have to be insane to try it...
Every generation faces challenges!
A good read 👍
Thanks Neil for the insights. Heard of him, but now can appreciate Outerbridge more. Love the advertising work!
Thanks Malcolm. There is a short film that re-enacts some of his photos, particularly the more fetishy stuff that I didn’t go into. Interesting guy but difficult to get a handle on.
https://vimeo.com/53053920
I'll have a look at that later, thanks Neil
I enjoyed this little tale. There is something inspiring about an artist who falls from favour gracefully.
Thanks Wessie
This was a really powerful read, and the images are just gorgeous. That final one of Outerbridge on the beach is steeped in so much emotion. That he appears content is so touching. Thanks, Neil.
Thanks, Lindsay! He was someone I knew nothing about, but because I'm going through the alphabet was forced to investigate. So glad I did!
A great find!
Thank you, Neil. Interesting to read about Outerbridge, did not know him at all. To me, the first image you share, in particular, is striking.
Thank you! That first image is the one that Szarkowski chose for his 100 photographs book. The height of modernist abstraction!
Wow, what a fascinating story, I love his work. I can't comprehend how a commercial photographer's style can fall out of fashion. I'll definitely dig deeper into hus work and story. Thanks so much for the shoutout!
You’re welcome! I did wonder if you had included him in your survey but, even though you hadn’t, it was worth resharing.
Nope, I wasn't aware of him or his work. Thanks for the introduction!
This is why I like Substack, learning and finding out new work, authors,projects and ideas!
daily 🤯
That roll of toilet paper in the roses is almost upsettingly beautiful. The demise of Outerbridge's art as you describe it due to an easier technique reminds me a bit of what happened to the art of engraving. It was totally supplanted by the rise of etching using acids, pretty much by the 17th century onwards. Before then, painters would take up the engravers burin and risk cutting fingers off; afterwards, they went for the much easier technique which gets acids to do the job. Engraving did survive in the form of mass-printed things, (e.g. Gillray and some antiquarian illustrations) but it remains dead as a mode of 'fine art' expression. I don't know any contemporary artists that practice the art and a master printmaker told me you'd have to be insane to try it...