Yesterday, as I was busy feeding books into Libarything.com (great site, by the way!) for "my library" I found - yes, it's almost unbelievable - a wonderful volume, a collection of portraits by the Austrian photographer Inge Morath, in my possession. I've NO idea, where this book came from, or on what occasion I got it. However, I'm thankful, dear unknown giver! Respond, if you're out there and reading this!
I've wanted to know more about Morath since I saw a documentary on TV about her a few weeks ago, called "The Last Journey", which was also made into a book. During her last journey (on which she died of cancer) she discovered the land of her ancestors, once divided on political and ideological grounds - and now slowly reconciling and becoming friendly with each other: the borderlands of Styria und Slovenia. Not far from where I come from. She had always a camera in her hands and always a smile on her face, despite her illness.
What few people know:
Inge Morath was not only one of the world's best photographers, but also the second wife of the author and playwright Arthur Miller.
She traveled extensively, around Europe, the Middle East, to North Africa. Wonderful are her portraits: Saul Steinberg, Victoria Sackville-West, Pablo Picasso, Igor Strawinsky, Marilyn Monroe, Henry Moore, Allen Ginsberg, Edward Albee, Doris Lessing, Vladimir Horowitz, to name but a few, and of course her teacher, Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Here's a link to her books.
6 comments:
You found a book by Inge Morath in your possessions? Hihi ... A couple of weeks ago you told me on the phone you saw a feature about here on TV.
I'd like to be the giver, but it's not be, Dear. It ain't me babe ...
Right, Stevie!
But, I loved this documentary! It took the viewers to the bucolic areas of Slovenian vineyards, roasted chestnuts, schnapps, the melancholic songs that sound so similar in Carinthia and Slovenia. But it didn't omit the dark past, on the contrary.
I wonder how Inge compared with Marilyn...?
Well,they met during the shootings of the "Misfits" and while she was portraying Marylin and they married a year (or so) later, so I think the comparison went well.
Hmmm - well, I suppose Inge alive would probably beat Marilyn dead...
Marilyn was very much alive when Arthur and Inge met, but their marriage (Arthur and M.) was already in a deep mess.
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