Robert Mapplethorpe and the Body-Builders

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Robert Mapplethorpe was already illustrious and controversial during his lifetime. After his death, a victim of AIDS in 1989, discussions resumed with a vengeance around pornography and racism.

The style of his photographs of nudes is easily recognizable. Mapplethorpe is photographing body-builders, man or woman, white or black. The faces are of little interest, it is the power of the muscles that inspires the artist.

Thus in 1981, he features a male Black model named Ajitto. He is seated and huddled on a pedestal covered with a cloth. The feet are placed on the same pedestal and the face is buried in the knees. In four images, the photographer made the complete tour of his model.

These black and white photographs were published as the frontispiece in the book of 1986, "The Black Book". Prints of these photos, of formats 46 x 35 cm, are for sale by Christie's in New York on March 31. This scarce complete set is estimated 120 K $.

At auction, the very decorative photos of flowers in close-ups are the most sought artworks of Mapplethorpe.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Unsold, the iconic set of the work of Mapplethorpe.

The fans continue to prefer the flowers. In the same sale, Mapplethorpe's Calla Lily has sold 120 K $ including premium, on an estimate of 100 K $.