With a career that spans over sixty years, Elliott Erwitt has become one of the most celebrated photographers of our time. Famous for taking candid photographs, he has a style that is instantly recognizable. Though he’s shot iconic portraits of everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Jackie Kennedy, it’s his ability to capture the whimsy of everyday life that sets him apart from the rest. While many of his black and white photos are quite humorous, especially the ones featuring children or dogs, others have a more serious tone to them. As he’s said about his photography, “Some people say my pictures are sad, some think they’re funny. Funny and sad, aren’t they really the same thing?”
Like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Erwitt is a master at capturing the “decisive moment” or that creative fraction of a second when one takes a picture. While one can quickly glance at his photos and find the humor or irony in them, Erwitt’s photos are meant to be studied or at least given a second look. How else would you notice that the fashionable, hat wearing Chihuahua is standing next to its owner’s black boots and a Great Dane?
Under book publishing company teNeues, Erwitt has recently come out with an extraordinary limited edition book. Called Elliott Erwitt XXL Collector’s Edition, it’s a 244 page hardcover, hand-signed and numbered book that’s chock full of Erwitt’s most iconic photos. The more expensive version (edition of 250) comes with a hand-signed, digital print photograph or you can just purchase the book itself. For those who enjoy his whimsical portraits of dogs, you can pick up the 144-page hardcover book devoted to our furry friends called Elliott Erwitt’s Dogs, also at teNeues.
Elliott Erwitt’s website
Elliott Erwitt/Magnum published by teNeues