EiA / Inspiring Photographers / Vol. 3 / Jeanloup Sieff

 

“ I have always maintained that there is no such thing as art. There are only artists, producing things that give them pleasure, doing so under some compulsion, perhaps even finding the process painful, but deriving a masochistic joy from it! “ 

– Jeanloup Sieff –

 

 

Jeanloup Sieff was born in Paris in 1933. He began shooting fashion in 1956 and joined the Magnum Photo Agency in 1958. Settling in New York soon after, Sieff began working for Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Elle, photographing such luminaries as Catherine Deneuve, Yves Saint-Laurent, Francois Truffaut and Serge Gainsbourg among many others. Influenced by the French New Wave of cinema in the 1950s, his artistry covered a wide range: fashion, nudes, landscapes and portraiture. By using wide angle lenses, he created images of distortion and printed his work with high contrast. His style was elegant, cool and imaginative.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeanloup Sieff briefly at his career retrospective in 1999 at the Staley-Wise gallery in New York City. When asked why he chose to work primarily in black and white, he simply told me it was his preferred means of expression, even if it meant he might work less, since color photography was in greater demand.

I am thankful for the few moments of conversation I shared with him. Sadly, he passed away the following year at the age of 66. I also treasure knowing that we shared a favorite cafe in Paris, the historic Cafe de Flore, on the Boulevard Saint-Germain-des-Pres, a wonderful vantage point for watching the world go by and imagining all the writers, poets and artists of the past who cultivated ideas there and enjoyed a fine beverage, or two. 

Below, some examples of his sensuous and creative work.

Wishing everyone a great summer break in August!

Regards,

GR

1 August 2019

 

 

 

 

              Jeanloup Sieff

 

 

 

 

Sources and for more on Jeanloup Sieff, please visit:

www.jeanloupsieff.com

www.hamiltonsgallery.com