Avedon Is a Gracefully Constructed Documentary About a Great American Photographer

Richard Avedon, a preeminent fashion photographer, had a career spanning the early 1940s until his death in 2004 from a cerebral hemorrhage. Even for those uninterested in fashion, his 1955 photograph of Dovima With Elephants, featuring Dovima in a Dior gown between two elephants, is a testament to his unmatched skill. The image is a harmonious blend of elegance, capturing the human spirit's beauty in conjunction with the grandeur of the animal kingdom, making it a spiritual meditation on fashion photography.

Avedon's talent wasn't limited to fashion; his ability to capture the essence of public figures like Malcolm X, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and Henry Kissinger, as well as Marilyn Monroe, showcased his profound understanding of the human face and body. His son, John, emphasized that his father's work was centered on discovering the individual in others' faces and lives.

Avedon's photography often served as a form of social protest. In 1939, he protested the exclusion of African American opera singer Marian Anderson from Washington's Constitution Hall by photographing the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in a candid moment, exposing their smug self-certainty. Similarly, in 1963, Avedon challenged the DAR to confront their racism by photographing them at a convention, resulting in portraits that were far from the confident poses they had hoped for.

In his work, Avedon preferred to capture subjects against a plain white background, whether it was a cowboy against a fence post or an individual separated from the crowd. He believed that this approach represented the individual's essence more accurately than being surrounded by extraneous elements.

The documentary Avedon, directed by Ron Howard, offers a deep dive into Avedon's photographic style and the man behind the lens. Through a juxtaposition of images and Avedon's own voice-over recordings, viewers gain insight into his working method. Avedon's preference for plain backgrounds allowed him to emphasize the subjects' true nature, be it a cowboy or a public figure.

Avedon grew up in Manhattan, the son of an emotionally distant father. He had siblings, including his adored sister Louise, who struggled with mental illness throughout her life. Even as a child, Avedon was captivated by Louise's beauty and would often photograph her, leaving a lasting imprint on his skin. This early experience foreshadowed the profound impact his photographic work would have on capturing the fleeting beauty of human existence.

Through his career, Avedon immortalized both the joy and the fading moments of the people he photographed. From models like Lauren Hutton and Isabella Rossellini to iconic figures like Picasso and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as once-prominent stars like Buster Keaton, Avedon's photographs serve as a visual record of their lives and the ephemeral nature of their fame. Avedon's documentary is a testament to his dedication to capturing the life that animates faces before it vanishes forever.