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The Age of Innocence
Accompanied by lyrical poetry, this collection showcases the nude portrait photography David Hamilton is known for.
220 pages, Hardcover
Published February 1, 1992
About the author
David Hamilton
38 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 31, 2026
This book was problematic, even when first published in the 1990s, and it’s only become worse. It was published and marketed as “art photography,” but it feels exploitative and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. The girls are objectified sexual objects. Which is wholly inappropriate for the adult gaze; it becomes awful and definitely not okay “art.”
Sure, children are sensual and sexual beings, I get it. We, as adults, need to protect them while at the same time not make them ashamed of their changing bodies.
But, why is it almost all girls? Almost all the problematic “idealized” version of youth. Another part of what makes this books problematic is a history of young females (all females, really, until past childbearing age, which they then become invisible) seen as sex objects rather than individuals. Perhaps if there were an even mix of boys and girls and other genders, and if they were all presented in artful photos that demonstrated their individualism instead of simply their sexuality, I'd feel the awe of humanity? And perhaps if he had all ages, all body types, all presented as individuals, this would be art. (You know who would do a great job at the naked human body in art? The “What’s Underneath” duo!)
As it stands, I recognize a shallow and singular sense of beauty, but feel, as a woman, violated by the male gaze.
Sure, children are sensual and sexual beings, I get it. We, as adults, need to protect them while at the same time not make them ashamed of their changing bodies.
But, why is it almost all girls? Almost all the problematic “idealized” version of youth. Another part of what makes this books problematic is a history of young females (all females, really, until past childbearing age, which they then become invisible) seen as sex objects rather than individuals. Perhaps if there were an even mix of boys and girls and other genders, and if they were all presented in artful photos that demonstrated their individualism instead of simply their sexuality, I'd feel the awe of humanity? And perhaps if he had all ages, all body types, all presented as individuals, this would be art. (You know who would do a great job at the naked human body in art? The “What’s Underneath” duo!)
As it stands, I recognize a shallow and singular sense of beauty, but feel, as a woman, violated by the male gaze.
April 22, 2014
"For in its inner most depths youth is lonelier than old age". Anne Frank
Beautiful quotes that match perfectly the feeling of the photos. This is photo-poetry if I may combine the two, lyricism of sense and visual delicacy.
Beautiful quotes that match perfectly the feeling of the photos. This is photo-poetry if I may combine the two, lyricism of sense and visual delicacy.
April 30, 2016
These GREAT photography pictures are fuzzy faded and not clear because they think it makes it better? - not!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews