Family Cats from the Archive 1949-1962, published by Damiani Books, unveils a selection of iconic black and white photographs by Walter Chandoha, many of which have not been published for over half a century. Recognized as the undisputed master of feline photography, Chandoha’s images reveal an unparalleled bond of trust between artist and subject, combining empathy and mastery. Chandoha often drew inspiration from his closest companions; his own family cats, starting with Loco who he found and adopted in 1919 during a New York City snowstorm and rescues from the Greenwich Village Humane League. Some of his first playful photographs of Loco’s escapades quickly captured the attention of picture magazines around the world, effectively going “viral” long before the digital era. From that moment on, Chandoha dedicated his career to photographing cats (and later dogs), building an extraordinary body of work that continues to inspire and shape our visual culture today.
Walter Chandoha (1920-2019) served as a combat pho- tographer in the US Signal Corps during World War II and turned his focus to photographing cats shortly after his return to New York City in the late 1940’s when he found Loco, his very first feline muse. Recognized as the pre-eminent master of cat photography and a pioneer of the genre, Chandoha defined the visual language of animal portraiture for generations to follow, creating a remarkable body of work spanning over 80 years.
Grace Coddington, an avowed cat lover, illustrator and legendary creative director, has shaped the visual landscape of fashion and imagery for decades. Coddington began her career as a model in London working with photographers such as Norman Parkinson, Helmut Newton and Guy Boudin until the late 1960’s. Soon after, she joined British Vogue as an editor; rising up to become Fashion Director for the next 19 years. In 1988, she joined American Vogue as Creative Director and for almost 30 years, produced some of the most iconic imagery in fashion.
Walter Chandoha : Family Cats from the Archive 1949-1962
Damiani Books
Foreword and illustration by Grace Coddington
17 x 22 cm | 6 ¾ x 9 ½ inches
48 pages, 55 b&w
softbound with flaps
ISBN 978-88-6208-858-9
$22 | €18 | £16
www.damianibooks.com
