Tribute / Saul Leiter 1923-2013

Saul Leiter - Walk with Soames, 1958

"In order to build a career and to be successful, one has to be determined. One has to be ambitious. I much prefer to drink coffee, listen to music and to paint when I feel like it."
- Saul Leiter, 2008

The great photographer Saul Leiter died this tuesday november 26th in New York aged 89 (here his obituary in The New York Times). Being a big fan of his work I salute his colours, his unique compositional eye, his artistic integrity and modesty. I featured his work in some of the very first posts on this blog and as a tribute these are reposted below.





WOLFGANG TILLMANS & SAUL LEITER
[first posted on this blog 26 april 2011, and earlier on mfk/fragmentedprocess on 22 february 2011]

Wolfgang Tillmans - 'Lighter III', 2006

Saul Leiter - 'Through Boards', 1957

First there was the visual connection that hit me, leafing through my box with postcards. But only while preparing this post, it struck me that Tillmans' title, 'Lighter III', is a phonetic reference to (Saul) Leiter. Coincidence? One might assume that Tillmans knows the master and it goes in the category 'quoting'. Intentional or subconscious, that remains a question. I'm intrigued since I'm fascinated as much by process as a final art work itself. But in the end, good art is good art I suppose.





HELEN FRANKENTHALER & SAUL LEITER
[first posted on this blog on 26 april 2011, and earlier on mfk/fragmentedprocess on 19 march 2011]

Helen Frankenthaler - Portrait of a Lady in White, 1979,
acrylic on canvas, 209x123cm

Saul Leiter - Street Scene, 1959