Aaron Siskind
Aaron Siskind: A Pioneering American Photographer
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Aaron Siskind was born on May 4, 1903, in Brooklyn, New York. His full name is Aaron Siskind, but he is often referred to as Aaron.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: May 4, 1903
Died: January 31, 1991
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Aaron Siskind was an American photographer. He is widely regarded for his work in the mediums of photography and sculpture.
Early Life and Background
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Siskind's interest in art began at a young age. He studied at Brooklyn Technical High School, where he developed skills in various artistic disciplines. However, it wasn't until he attended New York University that Siskind found his true passion: photography.
He initially began by taking photographs of the world around him. As time passed, his focus shifted to capturing the essence of the human experience through his lens. His early work was heavily influenced by the likes of Paul Strand and Berenice Abbott.
Major Accomplishments
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Siskind's photography career spanned over four decades, during which he created some truly remarkable works. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Pioneering Street Photography: Siskind is often credited with helping to establish the genre of street photography.
Documenting American Culture: Through his lens, Siskind captured a unique perspective on America's diverse culture.
Exploring Human Emotion: His photographs conveyed powerful emotions and experiences.Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Siskind's most notable works include:
"Chicago" (1945): A series of photographs that showcased the city's vibrant streets and human experience.
* "The Alphabet" (1951-1968): A collection of photographs featuring abstracted letters, exploring the relationship between language and visual representation.
Impact and Legacy
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Siskind's work has had a lasting impact on the world of photography. He paved the way for future generations of photographers by pushing the boundaries of what was possible with his medium.
Today, Siskind's photographs continue to be celebrated for their unique perspective and artistic vision. His influence can be seen in the works of many notable photographers, including Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Aaron Siskind is widely quoted and remembered because of his innovative approach to photography. He used his work to capture the essence of human experience and American culture, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of art.
Quotes by Aaron Siskind
Aaron Siskind's insights on:
In any art, you don’t know in advance what you want to say – it’s revealed to you as you say it. That’s the difference between art and illustration.
As the language or vocabulary of photography has been extended, the emphasis of meaning has shifted, shifted from what the world looks like to what we feel about the world and what we want the world to mean.
To me documentary photography means making a picture so that the viewer doesn’t think about the man who made the picture. At its esthetic core is very old tradition in art: naturalism. And its purpose is to document all facets of social relationships.
If you look very intensely and slowly things will happen that you never dreamed of before.
The only other things I got from the abstract expressionists is the absolute belief that this canvas is the complete total area of struggle, this is the arena, this is where the fight is taking place, the battle. Everybody believes that, but you have to really believe that and work that way.
It is no longer a matter of expressing reality, but of expressing what one feels about reality.
For some reason or other there was in me the desire to see the world clean and fresh and alive, as primitive things are clean and fresh and alive. The so-called documentary picture left me wanting something.
I was given a small camera as a wedding gift from a very dear friend. My first pictures were taken on my honeymoon. As soon as I became familiar with the camera, I was intrigued with the possibilities of expression it offered. It was like a discovery for me.