Pierre Boucher
1908-2000
La Chute d'un corps, 1936
Stamp on the back
Vintage Silver Gelatin Collage
24,4 x 22,2 cm
Chute des corps and La Chute d’un corps are a series of photographs, picturing falling bodies which at the same time seem to be flying. The elimination of the heads...
Chute des corps and La Chute d’un corps are a series of photographs, picturing falling bodies which at the same time seem to be flying. The elimination of the heads focuses the attention of the viewer on the naked bodies that are as sublime as a Greek or Roman statues. The sky lays as if it is the best company to the nude, as it is as naked as the body it carries.
"Today I hunt for images. We must be satisfied with a quick glance, grasp the movements in full flight, capture life in what it offers more moving, more elusive." says Pierre Boucher whose proximity to the knowledge of modern graphic techniques was pivotal to his artistic approach. In turn, this artistic approach was largely responsible for contributing to bringing photography into modernity as a fully-fledged artistic material, using mechanical imaging techniques for diverse purposes. Boucher explored various aspects of avant-garde photography. Thanks to his work, the photographer left the darkroom to learn other crafts. His work owes much to surrealist nudes inspired by Man Ray as well as photograms, photocollages, solarisations and overprints.
© Cigdem Mirol
Literature
Christian Bouqueret, Pierre Boucher, Photomonteur, Ed. Marval, Paris, 2003, p. 149 ill. 71