Zoom
*1973
- Title
- „Vénération – Brun et Botte“
- Time
- 2019
- signed
- verso signed, dated, titled and numbered no. 4/8
- Technique
- Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta
- Measurements
- 29 ½ × 17 ¾ and 29 ½ × 39 ⅓ in
The “Vénération” series by Austrian photographer Mike Kraus is an homage to the timeless allure of the horse. The focus is on the “design” of the horse, the result of centuries of breeding, its balanced proportions, and the trained muscles that can be seen beneath the shimmering coat. The “Vénération” cycle includes three variations,
each depicting a white, black, and brown horse, respectively (“blanc et lasso”, “brun et botte” and “noir et selle”). The three diptychs (each no. 4 from a limited series of only eight prints) are also available for individual purchase.
The title “Vénération” underscores the iconic nature of the work. Each piece juxtaposes the noble animal with an object traditionally associated with horsemanship, which complement the representation to form a diptych. The harmonious monochrome alignment of the animal, the object, and the background, paired with the minimalist
composition, guides the viewer’s eye to the intricacies of the photographic staging and the meticulous lighting. On a massive set equipped with up to ten flash units, Kraus masterfully illuminated even the most subtle details.
Born in 1973 in Vienna, Mike Kraus pursued his studies in Film History and Photography at the SACI School of Arts in Florence, before continuing his education in Directing and Cinematography at Columbia College in Chicago. Renowned internationally for his work in both landscape and object photography, Kraus has also made his mark as a portraitist, capturing iconic Hollywood stars such as Antonio Banderas, Emma Thompson, and Ralph Fiennes, among others.