Arne Svenson

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #27, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #317, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #211, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #158, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #69, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #224, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

A friend of Svenson's, Ron Warren, began collecting the sock monkeys in 1985.  Since then, he has amassed thousands of the toys, a symbol of homespun inventiveness and thrift.  Svenson uses traditional portraiture techniques in his photographs.  his placement of lamps and the direct placement of the dolls in front of the lens are meant to recall formal photography, despite their humorous subject.  Svenson's desire to capture the distinct personality of all of Warren's sock monkeys reflects a certain charm, as well as reflecting the reasons why we take ourselves so seriously when it comes to portraiture.

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #69, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #72, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #35, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #141, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #21, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”

Arne Svenson, 2001, Sock Monkey #287, gelatin silver print, 24 x 20”