Joel Meyerowitz, renowned for his groundbreaking street photography in New York City, is best known for his work in urban landscapes rather than still lifes. His photography helped establish color film as a serious artistic medium. However, his latest project, ‘Morandi’s Objects: The Complete Archive of Casa Morandi,’ reveals what emerges when Meyerowitz shifts his focus to a still life setting. The book, initially released in 2016 and featuring essays by Meyerowitz and his wife Maggie Barrett, has been updated by Damiani Books this year to include over 130 new photographs.
In the Bologna studio of still life master Giorgio Morandi, Meyerowitz captures the serene beauty of simple objects against a backdrop of cortado-hued peeling paint. “He was assembling a force field of geometric objects: circles, cylinders, cubes, rectangles, boxes, ovals,” Meyerowitz shared with Hyperallergic. “I think he was really meditating on the way these objects were blended into each other.”
During their time in Tuscany in the 2010s, Meyerowitz and Barrett arranged to explore Casa Morandi, a space largely hidden from public view. Meyerowitz, who studied painting, was deeply moved by Morandi’s use of angles and shadows. The experience was immersive, as Meyerowitz interacted with Morandi’s personal items, including the hat and jacket the artist wore while painting, which bore leftover paint as evidence of his work.
Barrett draws a parallel between the two artists, noting their shared qualities of stillness and latent energy. She acknowledges the inevitability of mortality, reflecting on the essence of natura morta. ‘Morandi’s Objects’ aims to preserve the spirit of Morandi’s inspiration and highlights Meyerowitz’s skill in identifying the punctum in his images.
Meyerowitz, who transitioned from painting to photography in the 1960s, finds satisfaction in revisiting his original medium through the lens of his camera. “Sitting in Morandi’s studio and studying the objects was so satisfying with the camera,” he remarked. The project allowed him to connect with Morandi’s enigmatic legacy, capturing the animated essence of simple objects.
