Love and Desire

by William A. Ewing

Love and desire, two of life's most profound emotions, have been central themes in myth, art, and literature since time immemorial. In 'Love & Desire', William Ewing curates a collection of photographs that delve into the essence of affection, longing, pleasure, sexuality, and adoration. Spanning from tender parental love to the farthest reaches of sexual experience, eight sections highlight the diverse interpretations photographic imagery offers. While some photographers remain unidentified, this collection also features masters of the art form like Brassa, Robert Doisneau, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Contemporary names such as Mario Testino and Nan Goldin, along with emerging talents, hint at the future of photography. 'Love & Desire' is poised to become a classic, both complementing Ewing's influential 'The Body' and standing alone as a rich repository of photography's most captivating, enigmatic, and thought-provoking subject.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Art and Photography, Erotica

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

William A. Ewing is a Canadian art historian specializing in photography. He served as the director of the Musée de l'Élysée in Lausanne from 1996 to 2010 and has been a research professor in the art history department at the University of Geneva, where he has focused on the history of photography. He has curated numerous international exhibitions and authored several books on the photographic representation of the human body. He is also the founder of the Todi Circle, an annual think tank on photography held in Todi, Italy. His publications include The Body, Le Siècle du Corps, and Edward Steichen: Carnet Mondain.

Reviews

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent curation of images demonstrating the shifts in photographing love since it’s inception to early digital, which also shows that the medium changes but the content has stayed the same.

[whimsicalmeerkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of photographs. Given to me by some dear friends for my birthday four years ago.