Lee Witkin 1975

Curator: Here we have Mike Mandel's gelatin silver print, "Lee Witkin," taken in 1975. What strikes you when you first look at this photograph? Editor: Pure Americana, with a slightly menacing twist. The baseball bat, the mustache… It feels like a still from some quirky 70s indie film, maybe about a disgruntled suburbanite ready to crack. Curator: You've honed in on something crucial. This portrait features Lee Witkin, a very influential figure in the world of photography. Editor: Seriously? He looks like he's about to challenge someone to a sandlot brawl. Curator: Witkin dedicated himself to legitimizing photography as fine art and fostered its growth through his gallery. He championed photographers and helped shaped its acceptance in the art world. Editor: That's wild! Here he is with this very "everyman" quality, maybe a little theatrical. The setting is so ordinary – just a backyard, an old chair. It makes him feel so accessible despite the almost aggressive stance. What's Mandel trying to say here? Is it a statement about the business of photography itself? Curator: That’s part of the power of the image; it shows a photography dealer removed from his formal environment. His somewhat threatening pose disrupts any notion that powerful members of the arts community are necessarily genteel. The photograph uses some strategies from realism to make Witkin less lofty. Editor: Maybe he wants to remind us that behind every powerful figure is just a person, you know, flaws and all. Ready to take a swing at something, perhaps. The slightly faded tones enhance that feeling of nostalgia. Curator: Absolutely, there’s a very intimate feeling within it as a document from the past, adding to its lasting significance in understanding the photography market and culture of the period. Editor: Well, now I can't see this photo the same way. The next time I find myself a bit intimidated by the art world, I'll just remember this picture of Lee Witkin swinging a baseball bat! Curator: Exactly! A reminder that even the gatekeepers have their playful sides, or maybe something to defend.