Photography Collection - News for Art Buyers

Jock Sturges is one of the most important photographers of our time, and he is one of the few who want to show the beauty of human beings. Sturges is concerned about much more than aesthetic attraction. In his photographs he wants to reveal something about his models. For him, it is about the soul in a positive sense, about the human being in its truly authentic state which is rediscovered in nature. In the process, all photographs are staged because Sturges is working with a large format camera and each picture requires preparation. „I don't smile in his pictures“, says Vanessa, one of his models in the documentary Line of Beauty and Grace. „It is impossible to smile for two minutes while he adjusts his camera”. In spite of it, she feels "totally in her body" and “relaxed" in Montalivet on the southwestern coast of France. In her opinion, Jock Sturges’ Photographs are about more than beautiful people in a beautiful natural setting, they are about life as a naturist in Montalivet. „The rest of the world simply does not exist“. As she sees it, the perfect beauty depicted in Jock Sturges' photographs causes them to look suspect. „They simply seem too perfect to be genuine. “

These kinds of pictures have made Sturges the target of hatred among religious fundamentalists in the USA. Photographs of minors incited riots among the zealots. The FBI searched his home and his studio, they damaged his camera equipment, but the artist was found not guilty in court. However, this is not the subject of the documentary by Christian Klinger and Daniela Krien. Rather, they make an attempt to understand the phenomenon of his body of work and also his intentions. To that end, they visit him in Montalivet where they experience the private Jock Sturges, how he tickles and plays with his daughter Marine, how he speaks to his wife Maia - who by the way is also one of his models - and how girls come and go at the vacation home. In addition, they observe the way he takes pictures and passes on his knowledge and skills to his assistants. Line of Beauty and Grace shows the master in his creative process and it is a successful approach to the art of naturism and to its supporters. Unfortunately, what is missing entirely in this film is the other side of the story: the provocation caused by his pictures and the disapproval. Of course, the protagonists make marginal mention of what upsets the critics. In the end though, Line of Beauty and Grace is a very European movie, and for that reason it is not really an issue. And why would it be? You are in southwestern France, and nature captivates everyone involved. „The rest of the world simply doesn't exist. “ Vanessa is right!