Brancusi's hand holding hammer.
11x14 Lifetime archival ink jet print. Printed under the supervision of Wayne F. Miller, 2008.
Constantin Brancusi in his studio. Paris, France. 1946.
Wayne F. Miller made a brief visit to Constantin Brancusi's Paris studio just after the war. Curtis Publishing's Magazine X was about to be launched to compete with Life and Miller had been assigned to photograph the great sculptor. He arrived as the afternoon light was beginning to wane. Miller was without an appointment and Brancusi was reluctant to admit him. He did so after the photographer kept repeating the name "Steichen" in different ways. Steichen and Brancusi had become close friends in WWl and he owned several sculptures by the Romanian-born genius. Suddenly completely welcome, Miller entered. Neither man spoke a word of the other's language, but to facilitate communication Miller had brought with him a bottle of cognac, which was well received.
The sculptor insisted (with gestures) on entertaining his guest before any photographs were taken, and Miller became nervous about the diminishing available light by which to work. But the host could not be dissuaded and dinner and drinks preceded pictures. Fortunately, Brancusi had a Victor reflector light stand (with a maddeningly short eight-foot cord) and Miller used it as best he could under the circumstances.
Miller remembers leaving the studio sometime between midnight and two in the morning-and he remembers Brancusi as an exceptionally warm individual. Magazine X never materialized, however the images were published in Artnews, October 1954 and in Newsweek, November 1955.
Appears in Wayne F. Miller Photographs 1942-1958 published by powerHouse Books, 2008.
11x14 Lifetime archival ink jet print. Printed under the supervision of Wayne F. Miller, 2008.
Constantin Brancusi in his studio. Paris, France. 1946.
Wayne F. Miller made a brief visit to Constantin Brancusi's Paris studio just after the war. Curtis Publishing's Magazine X was about to be launched to compete with Life and Miller had been assigned to photograph the great sculptor. He arrived as the afternoon light was beginning to wane. Miller was without an appointment and Brancusi was reluctant to admit him. He did so after the photographer kept repeating the name "Steichen" in different ways. Steichen and Brancusi had become close friends in WWl and he owned several sculptures by the Romanian-born genius. Suddenly completely welcome, Miller entered. Neither man spoke a word of the other's language, but to facilitate communication Miller had brought with him a bottle of cognac, which was well received.
The sculptor insisted (with gestures) on entertaining his guest before any photographs were taken, and Miller became nervous about the diminishing available light by which to work. But the host could not be dissuaded and dinner and drinks preceded pictures. Fortunately, Brancusi had a Victor reflector light stand (with a maddeningly short eight-foot cord) and Miller used it as best he could under the circumstances.
Miller remembers leaving the studio sometime between midnight and two in the morning-and he remembers Brancusi as an exceptionally warm individual. Magazine X never materialized, however the images were published in Artnews, October 1954 and in Newsweek, November 1955.
Appears in Wayne F. Miller Photographs 1942-1958 published by powerHouse Books, 2008.
11x14 Lifetime archival ink jet print. Printed under the supervision of Wayne F. Miller, 2008.
Constantin Brancusi in his studio. Paris, France. 1946.
Wayne F. Miller made a brief visit to Constantin Brancusi's Paris studio just after the war. Curtis Publishing's Magazine X was about to be launched to compete with Life and Miller had been assigned to photograph the great sculptor. He arrived as the afternoon light was beginning to wane. Miller was without an appointment and Brancusi was reluctant to admit him. He did so after the photographer kept repeating the name "Steichen" in different ways. Steichen and Brancusi had become close friends in WWl and he owned several sculptures by the Romanian-born genius. Suddenly completely welcome, Miller entered. Neither man spoke a word of the other's language, but to facilitate communication Miller had brought with him a bottle of cognac, which was well received.
The sculptor insisted (with gestures) on entertaining his guest before any photographs were taken, and Miller became nervous about the diminishing available light by which to work. But the host could not be dissuaded and dinner and drinks preceded pictures. Fortunately, Brancusi had a Victor reflector light stand (with a maddeningly short eight-foot cord) and Miller used it as best he could under the circumstances.
Miller remembers leaving the studio sometime between midnight and two in the morning-and he remembers Brancusi as an exceptionally warm individual. Magazine X never materialized, however the images were published in Artnews, October 1954 and in Newsweek, November 1955.
Appears in Wayne F. Miller Photographs 1942-1958 published by powerHouse Books, 2008.