As summer draws to a close, I am reminded of what could have been. 2020 has been a year unlike any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We have been separated from our friends and normal life for an undefined amount of time. This can often be daunting and demoralizing.
When I admire a work by the American photographer Slim Aarons (1916-2006) I am transported to another realm… I am back in the life I was living before the pandemic when we could socialize without restrictions and life was infinitely simpler.
Aaron’s work is often whimsical and matter of fact which creates allure and mystique in his compositions. His work is full of fabulous people in fabulous places doing fabulous things. His subjects are usually reclining on lounge chairs or in the pool tanning in what seems to be an endless summer. The colors in his photographs are vibrant which adds warmth to the composition and makes the works even more inviting.
Aarons was born in 1916 in New York City. He served in World War 2 after which he moved to California to pursue a career in photography. On of his most renowned works is Kings of Hollywood (1957) which is an image of Clark Gable, Garry Cooper, James Stewart and Van Heflin enjoying a drink at a New Years Eve party in Beverly Hills. While this may be his most renowned work, I am drawn to his more vibrant and sunny works, such as the Palm Beach series and his works of Capri, or his self portrait named Civilized Snoozed (1955) where he is reclining in a chair with the Parthenon in the background.
Images:
Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc (1976)
Kings of Hollywood (1957)
Civilized Snooze (1955)
Dining al-fresco on Capri (1980)
Leisure in Antibes (1969)
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