The Portraits of Robert Bergman

Untitled, 1987

Photographer Robert Bergman, born in 1944, an artist who has been always his own guy. Always an isolated artist, out-of-step with contemporary do's and dont's, a cult figure for few who knew his photos.

Untitled, 1987

Finally, two great shows, at Washington National Gallery and at P.S.1 in Bronx. Another one just started, at Yossi Millo in Chelsea.

Says the NGA catalogue, he focuses on the faces of his subjects and leaves little room for background distractions, depicting individuals, not types, and revealing their strength and delicacy.

Untitled, 1989

I found the images in Wall Street Journal, along with a fantastic article by Judith Dobrzynski.

Says Ms. Dobrzynski, Mr. Bergman won't explain his art: It's visual, he says. I don't need to talk about it. But he does tell the story of a subject in the Bronx who asked him where he was from. When Mr. Bergman said Minnesota, the man said, You come all this way only to see yourself.

Untitled, 1990

Untitled, 1990

Untitled, 1990

Untitled, 1990

Untitled, 1991

Untitled, 1994

Untitled, 1994

Untitled, 2009

(America viewed by Americans)