Walter Chandoha. Cats. Photographs 1942-2018

Walter Chandoha, a young marketing student and budding photographer, found a stray kitten in the snow in 1949 and was inspired to start photographing kittens from a local shelter. His images marked the start of an extraordinary career that would span seven decades, defining the visual vocabulary of animal portraiture for generations and inspiring such masters as Andy Warhol. This tribute to Chandoha showcases his glamorous lighting, color studio and environmental portraits, black-and-white street photography, images from vintage cat shows, and tender pictures that combine his children with cats.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2022
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

On a winter night in 1949, a young marketing student and budding photographer named Walter Chandoha stumbled upon a stray kitten in the snow in New York City. Without hesitation, he bundled the little creature into his coat and brought it home. Little did he know that this chance encounter would mark the beginning of an extraordinary career that would span seven decades.

Chandoha's fascination with cats led him to turn his lens on his new feline friend, whom he named Loco. The photographs he took of Loco were so inspiring that he decided to embark on a project photographing kittens from a local shelter. These images marked the start of an extraordinary career that would captivate the public for generations.

Before the Internet and the #catsofinstagram era, Chandoha was enchanting the world with his fuzzy subjects. His images graced advertisements, greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, pet-food packaging, and countless other forms of media. What set Chandoha apart was his genuine affection for the creatures, his strong work ethic, and his impeccable technique. His trademark glamorous lighting, which highlighted the texture and color of each cat's fur, would define the visual vocabulary of animal portraiture for years to come and inspire such masters as Andy Warhol.

Chandoha's work encompassed a wide range of genres within the animal portraiture genre. He captured color studio portraits, environmental portraits, black-and-white street photography, images from vintage cat shows, tender pictures that combined his children with cats, and much more. His photographs showcased his versatility and his ability to capture the essence of these beguiling creatures in a variety of settings and contexts.

This tribute to Walter Chandoha and his remarkable photographs is not just a celebration of cats but also a testament to the compassion and talent of this remarkable photographer. Chandoha passed away in 2019 at the age of 98, but his legacy lives on through his images, which continue to captivate and inspire people around the world. Each frame of his work conveys a sense of warmth and tenderness, reminding us of the profound connection between humans and animals.

In conclusion, Walter Chandoha's journey with cats began with a chance encounter on a winter night in 1949. His passion for these creatures led him to embark on an extraordinary career that spanned seven decades. Through his photographs, Chandoha captured the beauty, charm, and individuality of cats, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and captivate people around the world.

Weight: 2298g
Dimension: 323 x 244 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836573856
Edition number: Multilingual ed