One of the first Alfred Cheney Johnston photographs I saw on ebay was this incredibly striking portrait of a young woman named Ruby de Remer posed with an artist’s palette and brush. It really caught my attention. Why? Because after years and years of studying Photography in art school and graduate school, it was the first photograph I came upon that literally integrated the world of art with photography. And the image in a small way, seemed to “paint” a portrait of the artist-photographer himself…it is one of the images that sparked a desire to learn more about him. Why did he use the palette as a prop? Was it Johnston’s? Had he studied Painting? Who was the model? Was it his wife Doris? Had he stepped away from his easel, and handed her the palette and brush to hold? Had she challenged him to paint his portrait, turning the tables on Johnston while he photographed her? Fanciful theories, but what was the truth?
Like the first Johnston portrait I had seen on ebay (that story is in JAZZ AGE BEAUTIES), the composition of this photograph was dramatic and exciting. It is beautifully designed with the lines of the various elements keeping your eyes constantly moving. It all begins with the profile line of her back at lower left which leads your eye to the tip of the bandana and to the curve of her hair ricocheting to the back of her head and on to the profile of her upturned face. From there, her face and gaze, along with the diagonal brush handle and forearm direct your vision to the tip of the brush…suggesting painting and the creative process. Finally, your eyes move along the paint on the palette interactively, following the right edge down to the bottom curve and back again to her lower back. It is a complete composition. It reminded me of the nude studies by the painters Bonnard, and Mattisse. And it also reminded me of all the hours I had spent in Life Drawing and Anatomy classes drawing the nude model.
Over the course of the next 3-4 years, I began to slowly gather information about the elusive Alfred Cheney Johnston, entirely on the internet, and almost exclusively on ebay. I studied every ACJ print I could find. I emailed sellers and buyers and learned whatever I could. I followed leads people gave me, no matter how obscure or ridiculous. I began to call people and start interviewing people on the phone…The old quote by Ulysess held true for me- the more I searched, the more I began to find, the more the world of Alfred Cheney Johnston opened up to me.
Although I still didn’t have an overwhelming amount of information, the idea for a book about Alfred Cheney Johnston steadily began to materialize…I begin to envision an oversized coffee table art book like the ones I had been inspired by while in art school…a magnificently illustrated book like the one I had on Rembrandt….the name of the publisher… ABRAMS of New York. I decided to give them a call…
