Loretta Lux

by Loretta Lux (Photographer), Francine Prose

Though the sense of realism in German photographer Loretta Lux's striking portraits of children remains eerily intact, Lux does not strive to create faithful photographic representations of her young subjects. Instead, each image--invariably comprised of a lone child in a sparse landscape--is painstakingly composed and manipulated to create psychically charged explorations of the nature of childhood and the process of self-discovery. Originally trained as a painter, Lux continues to draw influence from paintings by old masters such as Velasquez, Goya and Runge. This influence is especially apparent in Lux's compositions. After carefully choosing the models, costumes and backdrops--sometimes using her own paintings--she digitally combines and enhances each element to form meticulously structured tableaux. The consistently forlorn expressions of her models combined with the hyperreality of the image create portraits that transcend their subjects and remind us that childhood is as chaotic and multidimensional as any other part of life.

Genres: Art, Photography

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2005

Reviews

[Gerko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtige foto’s van creepy kinderen! Nu op zoek naar haar fotoboek met rokende kinderen.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't really "read" this book -- except for Francine Prose's introductory essay, which I didn't read. But the photos are fascinating, unlike anything I've seen. I planned to cut it up for collages, but I don't think I can do that now. At least not until I have a lot more time to look at these strange, painting-like, almost surreal photos.

[Elaine Meszaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoooo, creepy! Remember that little kid that was supposed to be Scully’s daughter in X-Files but everyone hated her because she was so creepy? Well, that little weirdo has nothing on Lux’s models. Lux’s children are how I imagine seraphim would appear - beautiful forms, but also terrible, dangerous and otherworldly. While most of her models are young children, they have the pale and grave faces of those who have seen too much of life already. Their perfect outfits, dreamy backgrounds and emotionless faces are inhuman. Lux’s few self-portraits do little to relieve the mind; she is as creepy as her models.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure pleasure to look through. The photographs of children are super-imposed on background pictures. The colors are absolutely amazing...especially how colors in the children's clothes match and echo colors from the background photos.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, surrealist photography of children and some adults--sort of an odd hybrid of renaissance paintings and modern photography.

[Carolina de Goes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and creepy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something off about this children. Something very children-of-the-corn-esque. But I love it!

[Kelsey Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lux's style. Her subtle manipulations give her subjects a very whimsical appearance. The backgrounds give the images dimension and create a story.

[Catalina]

creepy as fuck!