Animal (127), 2009

This limited-edition print by San Francisco–based artist Elliot Ross is part of his series Animal. Intrigued by a portrait of his late cat, Ross wondered whether or not the cat consciously looked into the camera while the photograph was being taken. Ross then began to ask himself questions such as, "What was the cat thinking?" and "In what ways is the consciousness of an animal different from that of a human being?" As the artist states, "the title indicates this is the 127th in a series of photographs of animals. The animals are depicted without defined context, in a space where the figure has little if any background. I think this allows each image to be seen as an experience, as if we are encountering an individual of another species unexpectedly, coming upon it perhaps even in that most emotionally vulnerable of places: a dream. For similar reasons, I haven't used species names to identify them. And I haven't stated the locations at which they were photographed because each 'photographic record' is only the beginning of a much longer process, one involving a hands-on, drawing-like use of imaging software to apply ink to paper."

Going on to photograph animals from around the world, Ross creates images laden with emotion. In later discarding their environmental surroundings, and using an almost painterly approach in post-production, we are left with these beautifully isolated and powerful portraits.

Archival Pigment Print
Edition of 15 and 3 Artist’s Proofs
Paper Size: 17 1/16 x 12 15/16 inches
Image Size: 14 1/2 x 11 inches
Signed and numbered by the artist

Elliot Ross (born in Chicago, Illinois) was awarded his Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Institute in 1971. Ross is represented by Alan Klotz Gallery (New York), Schilt Publishing Gallery (Amsterdam), and Davis Orton Gallery (Hudson, New York). His work is in several private and public collections, most notably The Tate, London; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Bibliothéque nationale de France, Paris; the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson; the Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi, Belgium.;and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.