Ten things to know about Robert Mapplethorpe
Finestre sull’Art
April 2025
Robert Mapplethorpe (New York, 1946 - Boston, 1989), an emblematic and provocative figure of 20th-century photography (on view at the Stanze della Fotografia in Venice with Robert Mapplethorpe. The Forms of the Classic, from April 10, 2025 to January 6, 2026), left an unmistakable artistic legacy, capable of combining seduction and glamour in a visual language that openly defies social and moral conventions. His photographs, which range from portraits to still lifes, from nudes to the exploration of the erotic and sadomasochistic sphere, are not limited to mere aesthetic representation, but stand as profound reflections on controversial issues such as homosexuality, sexuality and identity. American writer Joan Didion masterfully summarised his art, highlighting Mapplethorpe’s ability to apply a classical form to “unthinkable” images, creating a visual short-circuit that amplifies the expressive power of his works.