"Gesichtsstudie mit Theo"

Nr. 2

gelatin silver print, selenium toned

signed, titled and dated (pencil) on verso

Whenever I wanted to relax on the sofa in the living room, my children would inevitably take pleasure in annoying me. They would drum on my stomach and together we would make different sounds. I taught them vocal “supporting”, a technique that involves deliberately tightening the diaphragm while singing, which I had learned during my time in the Vienna Boys’ Choir. They also manipulated my face to create comical expressions, which gave me the idea of creating Gesichtsstudien (face studies). These photos were inspired by artists such as Franz Xaver Messerschmidt and Arnulf Rainer, as well as Theodor and Clara Simak captured by Rudi Froese.
(Fritz Simak)