The fall of Calais took place in 1347, thus ending one of the darkest episodes of the Hundred Years War. After eleven months of siege of the French city by the English troops, King Edward III demanded the sacrifice of six of the most prominent Burghers of Calais in exchange for the lives of the rest of the city’s population. The six noble volunteers were ordered to strip to their breeches and walk humbly from the city gates to the King, bringing with them the keys to the city, as a symbol of its total capitulation. Although Edward III wanted to execute all six of the Burghers, their lives were spared through the intervention of his wife, Philippa of Hainault.
Commissioned by the City of Calais in 1885 to create a monument honoring the six heroes, French sculptor Auguste Rodin gave shape to the most famous representation of the memorable historical event, solidifying its place in our collective consciousness. Based on the written record of Jean Froissard, a contemporary of the siege, Rodin’s interpretation of the Burghers’ sacrifice stresses the conflicted feelings of resignation and pain, that might have consumed the Burghers as they made their way toward the enemy.
Rodin’s Burghers of Calais: A Heroes’ Tale is a visual study of one of Rodin’s most prominent works by American born photographer Gordon Watkinson. Deconstructing the group of six Burghers, Watkinson focuses on the depth of human emotions that the sculptor infused into his subjects: fear, despair, suffering, but also valor and determination in confronting the fate that they believed was awaiting them. The portraits and detailed close-ups captured by the photographer conjure up with stunning affinity the sculptor’s powerful creative act.
Sample Photos
Photographer
Gordon Watkinson borrowed a camera for a photography class he took at the age of 24 while attending Virginia Commonwealth University. Although he had never thought of photography in a serious way, after completing the course his professor saw enough in his work that he encouraged Watkinson to reconsider his career choice and arranged for him to begin working as a photographic assistant. Watkinson has spent the past 17 years working as a commercial photographer for a broad range of clients from the fields of advertising, architecture, design, and fashion. In conjunction with his photographic work he has directed commercials, made industrial videos, and worked directly with major corporations as well as specialized brands, helping them to develop visual strategies for targeted markets. Over the years he developed a strong sensitivity for both forms and materials, which has shaped his visual approach and strengthened his fascination for timeless and minimalist design.
Watkinson shares his time between New York and Paris. His latest project, the exhibition Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy, has been traveling throughout Europe since its opening in March 2009; the companion publication to the exhibition was published in English, German, Polish and will soon be available in a Chinese edition.
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Photographs by Gordon Watkinson (archival pigment prints): 7
Size of each of the photographs: 34 x 46 inches / 86 x 116 cm
Space Requirements: 10 - 15 meters / 30 - 50 running feet
Security: Limited
The exhibition set includes the following:
- A large format portfolio (34 x 46 inches / 86 x 116 cm) comprised of 7 unmounted
prints, which will be part of an edition of 15. This portfolio can remain in the
museum's permanent collection or be used for fundraising purposes. - 4 smaller portfolios (approx. 17 x 22 1/4 inches / 43 x 57 cm) of 7 unmounted
prints each, which will be part of an edition of 50. - Each of the portfolios will be presented in a box and include the scenography of
the exhibition as well as a disk with all the graphics. - 20 copies of a limited edition poster, signed and numbered, printed on digital C print
paper, which will be produced in an edition of 250 in a format of 24 x 36 inches
(60 x 90 cm).
Price of the exhibition set: Upon request
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Foto+Synthesis offers the following educational opportunities with Gordon Watkinson:
Developing a Personal Vision: Narrative & Photography
2 day-workshop for middle and high school students
Participants will learn how to use a series of photographs to illustrate a personal vision while developing an awareness of the art of the visual story.
Anatomy of a Photo Project
1 day-seminar for university photography & art students, or/and general audience
Participants will learn how to develop a photographic project, from conception through planning for its realization in book or/and exhibition form.
Guided tours of the exhibition with Gordon Watkinson
Guided tours of the exhibition with photographer Gordon Watkinson for targeted audiences (general, children, high school students.)
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