Description
Thomas Ruff is one of the most renowned photographers on the international stage. He began his engagement with the portrait genre around 1980. Ruff opted to shoot half-length portraits depicted in as neutral a style as possible, in order to hold the focus fully on the subject's face. The photographer's preferred composition presents his subjects in a standard front-on pose, being careful to avoid imposing any psychological interpretation. As early as 1981, Ruff laid down the conditions under which his photographs were to be taken: subjects had to sit on a stool wearing their everyday clothes and were then photographed presenting a calm and serious facial expression. He predominantly chose individuals from his own environment to pose as models for his portraits.
In their monumental format presented here, the photographs reveal a multitude of details in blunt honesty. The depictions seem to suggest that it is impossible to capture the inner life of a subject in a photograph.
Thomas Ruff lives and works in Dusseldorf.
Details
- Work Date:
- 2000
- Location:
- UBS Zurich, Europaallee
- Dimensions:
- 210 x 165 cm
- Medium:
- Photography