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Saul Leiter: In My Room
The fruit of fantastic recent discoveries from Saul Leiter's vast archive, In My Room provides an in-depth study of the nude, through intimate photographs of the women Leiter knew. Showing deeply personal interior spaces, often illuminated by the lush natural light of the artist's studio in New York City's East Village, these black-and-white images reveal a unique type of collaboration between Leiter and his subjects. In the 1970s Leiter planned to make a book of nudes, but the project was never realized in his lifetime. Now, we get a first-time look at this body of work, which was begun on Leiter's arrival in New York in 1946 and honed over the next two decades. Leiter, who was also a painter, allows abstract elements into the photographs and often shows the influence of his favorite artists, including Bonnard, Vuillard and Matisse. Leiter, who painted and took pictures prolifically up to his death, worked in relative obscurity until he entered his eighties. He preferred to be left alone, and resisted any type of explanation or analysis of his work. With In My Room, Leiter ushers viewers into his private world while retaining his strong sense of mystery.
Saul Leiter was born in Pittsburgh in 1923. In 1946 he moved to New York to become a painter, but was encouraged to pursue photography by the photographic experimentation and influence of his friend, the Abstract Expressionist Richard Pousette-Dart. Leiter subsequently enjoyed a successful career as a fashion photographer spanning three decades, and his images were published in magazines such as Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and British Vogue. His work is held in many prestigious private and public collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Leiter died in November 2013.
Saul Leiter was born in Pittsburgh in 1923. In 1946 he moved to New York to become a painter, but was encouraged to pursue photography by the photographic experimentation and influence of his friend, the Abstract Expressionist Richard Pousette-Dart. Leiter subsequently enjoyed a successful career as a fashion photographer spanning three decades, and his images were published in magazines such as Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and British Vogue. His work is held in many prestigious private and public collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Leiter died in November 2013.
- GenresPhotographyArtNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
Published May 17, 2018
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2019
As a fervent admirer of women's anatomy and body, Saul Leiter's In My Room was a wonder to the eyes. A collection of black and white photographs mostly featuring nude women doing the mundane and curious � changing clothes, lying in bed, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, arranging their hair, even masturbating. But there was nothing objectifying nor looking through the lens of the "male gaze" here. Instead the touch of utmost delightful eroticism was there. They were very romantic, vulnerable, and sensual. I'd even go as far to say intimate and personal. It was mentioned in the foreword that Leiter developed and printed these himself. The lighting in each photograph gave a feel of pleasing and revering candidness. Further, the types of women taken in these photos were not varied and no footnote, or even a little background, whatsoever, was present; a sense of mystery.
Saul Leiter was mostly known as the pioneer of color photography. He's also considered as one of the greatest street photographers of our time. Incidentally, I discovered him first after scavenging through his photos of New York via Google then finally seeing this book at a book sale. His street photos of New York reminded me so much of Haynes' Carol's cinematography: provocative, alienating, voyeuristic. But to have In My Room in my hands was an altogether different experience, it showed another perspective to Leiter's work and temperament who was a very private person.
(All images from Pinterest.)
Saul Leiter was mostly known as the pioneer of color photography. He's also considered as one of the greatest street photographers of our time. Incidentally, I discovered him first after scavenging through his photos of New York via Google then finally seeing this book at a book sale. His street photos of New York reminded me so much of Haynes' Carol's cinematography: provocative, alienating, voyeuristic. But to have In My Room in my hands was an altogether different experience, it showed another perspective to Leiter's work and temperament who was a very private person.
(All images from Pinterest.)
August 1, 2022
These are real women. Their nudity is almost incidental. Or rather it strikes the viewer as totally natural. A far cry from the gaudiness, glamour and gore that tames and trivialises the bulk of nude photography. It is undeniable that the camera here has been animated by a male gaze, but the tenor of the relationship between model and photographer is affectionate and conspiratorial. The aim is not to titillate but to partake of each other's humanity. The women are totally at ease, themselves, grand. All of Saul Leiter's work is nourishing, there's no doubt about it.
November 23, 2018
"There are the things that are out in the open, and there are the things that are hidden. The real world has more to do with what is hidden." -- Saul Leiter
In addition to his fashion photography taken for the likes of Elle, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, photographer and painter Saul Leiter is best known for his soft, quiet, colour street photographs of 1950s New York. This exceptional collection of black and white portrait photographs, all taken in Leiter's Manhattan apartment, are a wonderful complement to his better-known images.
These pictures are fleeting and of-the-moment. They are often slightly unfocussed, taken with natural light, often with heavy shadows and in low light, The models, friends and lovers are photographed in unguarded moments: dressing, undressing, smoking, bathing, drinking coffee. Many of the images are reflections, taken through doors and from angled and low vantage points.
It's a brilliant collection of portraiture, well worth visiting and revisiting and adds depth to anyone interested in Leiter's photography.
In addition to his fashion photography taken for the likes of Elle, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, photographer and painter Saul Leiter is best known for his soft, quiet, colour street photographs of 1950s New York. This exceptional collection of black and white portrait photographs, all taken in Leiter's Manhattan apartment, are a wonderful complement to his better-known images.
These pictures are fleeting and of-the-moment. They are often slightly unfocussed, taken with natural light, often with heavy shadows and in low light, The models, friends and lovers are photographed in unguarded moments: dressing, undressing, smoking, bathing, drinking coffee. Many of the images are reflections, taken through doors and from angled and low vantage points.
It's a brilliant collection of portraiture, well worth visiting and revisiting and adds depth to anyone interested in Leiter's photography.
August 19, 2018
Read at Americal Book Center, Amsterdam
March 31, 2020
Seductive, mysterious, and intimate. Nice essay, too.
September 27, 2022
Really intriguing to see his portrait and mono work. Inspiring!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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