Silliness If You Ask Me
Lartigue’s “Zissou in his Tire Boat.” (Color changed for graphic effect.)
“One of my favorite Lartigue stories involves a conversation between Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud. The pair were discussing a major Lartigue show they had each just seen and Freud was enthusing about the work. “My dear Francis,” he began, “It’s quite remarkable. This man can actually photograph happiness!”
Bacon looked up from his beer with a look of derision. “Silliness if you ask me.”
Of course both were right. Lartigue, the great prodigy of photography, blessed with a sharpshooter’s eye and a wealthy and sporty family who were always having fun, could photograph both happiness and silliness, as well as all kinds of love and desire, and make it all sing. The picture above is one of the silly ones but it never fails to make me smile.”
