On Photographs : Online Exhibition - COVID 19

Works
  • Mark Cohen, Headless Horseman, 1967/2005
    Mark Cohen, Headless Horseman, 1967/2005
  • Helen Levitt, Untitled (Masks in Tree), New York City, New York, c. 1940
    Helen Levitt, Untitled (Masks in Tree), New York City, New York, c. 1940
  • Ilse Bing, Circus Acrobat on Black Ball, New York, 1936-7
    Ilse Bing, Circus Acrobat on Black Ball, New York, 1936-7
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alicante, Spain, 1933
    Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alicante, Spain, 1933
  • Andre Kertesz, Meudon, 1928/1970's
    Andre Kertesz, Meudon, 1928/1970's
  • Man Ray, Les champs delicieux (no. 3), 1922
    Man Ray, Les champs delicieux (no. 3), 1922
  • Aaron Siskind, Seaweed with Footprint, 1940
    Aaron Siskind, Seaweed with Footprint, 1940
  • Edward Weston, Nude on Sand, Oceano (Charis, dunes) 237N, 1936
    Edward Weston, Nude on Sand, Oceano (Charis, dunes) 237N, 1936
  • Walker Evans, New York City Tenement Kitchen, 1931
    Walker Evans, New York City Tenement Kitchen, 1931
  • Mario Giacomelli, La Gente del Sud: Scanno 52, 1959
    Mario Giacomelli, La Gente del Sud: Scanno 52, 1959
  • Francesca Woodman, Untitled (self-portrait with chair), 1977-78
    Francesca Woodman, Untitled (self-portrait with chair), 1977-78
  • Ralph Gibson, M.J. in Little Mirror (37A), 1974/75
    Ralph Gibson, M.J. in Little Mirror (37A), 1974/75
  • Eugene Atget, Fete du Trone, 1924
    Eugene Atget, Fete du Trone, 1924
  • György Kepes, Untitled, c. 1940
    György Kepes, Untitled, c. 1940
  • Edward Weston, Fantastique- Dancer, Los Angeles, 1921
    Edward Weston, Fantastique- Dancer, Los Angeles, 1921
  • Yamamoto Masao , A Box of Ku #613, 1990
    Yamamoto Masao , A Box of Ku #613, 1990
  • Bill Jacobson, Thought Series #2580, 1998
    Bill Jacobson, Thought Series #2580, 1998
  • Jerry Uelsmann, Untitled The Philosopher, 1976
    Jerry Uelsmann, Untitled The Philosopher, 1976
  • Man Ray, Untitled Rayograph (Gun with Alphabet Stencils), 1924
    Man Ray, Untitled Rayograph (Gun with Alphabet Stencils), 1924
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson, Madrid, Spain, 1933
    Henri Cartier-Bresson, Madrid, Spain, 1933
Overview
The exhibition takes its name from a new book by David Campany, a curator and writer based in London and New York. David Campany was an undergraduate student when he met Susan Sontag. During a friendly discussion about her groundbreaking and influential book On Photography, CAMPANY ASKED ABOUT HER ASSESSMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT INCLUDING SPECIFIC PHOTOGRAPHS. “MY BOOK IS MORE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PHENOMENON, SOCIAL AND ARTISTIC,” SHE REPLIED. “PERHAPS ONE DAY YOU WILL WRITE A BOOK TITLED ON PHOTOGRAPHS.” CAMPANY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE GOAL SUSAN SONTAG SET OUT FOR HIM WITH ON PHOTOGRAPHS, PUBLISHED THIS FALL BY MIT PRESS.

In the spirit of the book—exploring the meaning of photography and its history by focusing on specific images—the exhibition On Photographs surveys 20 images from 18 leading 20th century photographers including Eugene Atget, Ilse Bing, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mark Cohen, Walker Evans, Mario Giacomelli, Ralph Gibson, Bill Jacobson, György Kepes, Andre Kertesz, Helen Levitt, Man Ray, Aaron Siskind, Jerry Uelsmann, Edward Weston, Francesca Woodman, and Masao Yamamoto. The exhibition presents an opportunity to commemorate Robert Klein Gallery’s 40th anniversary as most of the photographers in On Photographs have been in multiple exhibitions at the gallery.