Untitled [Memphis]

Memphis, the title of this photograph, is the birthplace and residence of William Eggleston, a leading figure in the evolution of color art photography. He attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville; Delta State College, Cleveland, Mississippi; and the University of Mississippi, Oxford. After his discovery, in 1962, of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s book of photographs titled The Decisive Moment, he began to pursue photography seriously. Since 1966 he has worked almost exclusively in color, which was unusual at the time, since it was a commercial process and primarily used in advertising. Ten years later he was given a one-person exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, which provoked much controversy among critics, some of whom viewed his photographs as mere snapshots of random subjects.

Eggleston’s departure from the traditional formality of black-and-white photography was intentional; his goal was to capture the real world by choosing to shoot seemingly unimportant places and people. His democratic way of seeing was influenced more by his personal vision than by previous artistic styles. Color, he believes, is a fundamental feature of perception, as well as a vital aspect of documenting daily life. Through his large-format prints of everyday subject matter, he creates iconic images of ordinary scenes.

One of his most famous works, Memphis was featured on the cover William Eggleston’s Guide, the exhibition catalogue for his 1976 show at MoMA. In a suburban neighborhood a tricycle sits on an expanse of concrete. Contrasted with the blue green of the tricycle are the grays of the sidewalk, the winter sky, the roofs of the houses, and the colorless grass. The tricycle is seen from an unusual perspective, making it appear gigantic. Dominating the foreground, it takes on a somewhat menacing presence as it dwarfs the homes and car in the background. Many of Eggleston’s photographs, like this one, have vague titles or remain untitled. He prefers viewers to approach his photographs without preconceptions, forcing his audience to develop their own interpretations and conclusions. His works invite speculation and are layered with ambiguities.