Jan Saudek

Jan Saudek is a Czech photographer and painter best known for his disturbing nude portraits (predominantly of women, but also of men). He started his "serious" photography while living in squalor in a basement apartment with one flaky wall he shot against, and that became part of his signature style. But perhaps the most astounding aspect of his art is that he started painting his prints in a pastel style that gives them a unique and (in my opinion) quite incredible look. I discovered some of his images online by accident and immediately set about to find books. This one is a sizable collection (200 pages) that spans his entire career to date, from his early work in street and urban landscapes, then two black and white studio work and early nudes, and on to what became his signature painted color style. The subject matters are disturbing at times, clearly Saudek had a complicated relationship with sex, an appetite for the provocative and for out of norms models. There is however a dark poetry that pervades the whole book that I find fascinating. Some images are borderline pornographic, but many tell stories through costumes, poses and colouring. Obviously not for everyone, but I found it fascinating and would love to both see the original painted prints, and understand how he produced them...