Robert Mapplethorpe

Derrick Cross & Friends,1982

Robert Mapplethorpe, Derrick Cross, 1983, stampa in gelatina d’argento / gelatin silver print,
50.8 x 40.6 cm

Robert Mapplethorpe was born November 4, 1946 and passed away March 9, 1989.  He is widely known for his compositions of nude men.  I must say thin that I was upset with some of his work, as he lost the art in the pictures and instead created a far jump over to pornography.  Specifically, I found one of his works consisting of a close of a hand grabbing an erect penis.  There is no story or art about that.  It is simply the artists fascination with the sexual desire.  However, I did find some of his pieces that I liked.  I enjoyed the contrast and lights and darks working throughout the man's back in the first picture.  It resembled very similarly the famous picture of the pepper for me.  I also enjoyed the rhythm created with the body shapes in the second photograph.  I think that the movement is very nice.