Arnold Abner Newman was an American photographer, noted for his “environmental portraits” of artists and politicians. He was also known for his carefully composed abstract still life images. Newman found his vision in the empathy he felt for artists and their work. Although he photographed many personalities (such as Pablo Picasso,  Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy), he maintained that even if the subject is not known, or is already forgotten, the photograph itself must still excite and interest the viewer. Newman is often credited with being the first photographer to use so-called environmental portraiture, in which the photographer places the subject in a carefully controlled setting to capture the essence of the individual’s life and work. Newman normally captured his subjects in their most familiar surroundings with representative visual elements showing their professions and personalities. Using a large-format camera and tripod, he worked to record every detail of a scene. Newman’s best-known images were in black and white, although he often photographed in color. His 1946 black and white portrait of Igor Stravinsky seated at a grand piano, became his signature image, even though it was rejected by Harper’s Bazaar, the magazine that gave the assignment to Newman. Among Newman’s best-known color images is an eerie portrait from 1963 that shows former Nazi industrialist and minister of armament Alfried Krupp in one of Krupp’s factories. Newman admits his personal feelings influenced his portrayal of Krupp.Newman taught photography at Cooper Union for many years. He was recovering from a stroke when he died at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York.

Photo Analysis:

This photograph was taken by Arnold Newman, of Alfried Krupp in 1963. This photograph is one of Newman’s well known images due to hidden message and ideas that can be taken from this environmental portrait.