Charis Wilson, who was lover, muse, model, amanuensis and wife of the photographer Edward Weston and the subject of many of his best-known nude portraits, died on Friday in Santa Cruz, Calif. She was 95. (NYT)

Edward Weston: American photographer, founder of Group f/64. His work only continues to gather power as it colors and ages. (A common feature of the f/64 crew as a whole…)

It’s his composition, I think, that feels so piercing and on target. Composition and contrast. The color almost doesn’t matter when the body is laid out so clearly and so fearlessly…it’s just…honest. To the point of being confrontational.

The photographer exposes himself in the image: Look at the last two photographs. I’m sure that Weston shot Wilson hundreds of times, but taken together, these two portraits show something startlingly intimate. Weston’s favorite view of Charis, maybe: arms akimbo, legs spread, eyes locked (with his)…face straight, head bonneted, expression equal parts patient and removed.

Weston loved her. Look how Wilson folds her body. You can almost hear Weston’s voice — soothing, asking her gently to move to the left or right. To sit. Coming over, he eases her head down against her kneecap.

Stare back at Charis and you stare at Weston. Give into him. He’s trying to give you a piece of himself: the honesty of shared silence, early mornings, the moment (just after) you are taken off your guard.

Categories: Muse

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