| Photography 1938-1955 |
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Untitled (Amputated Foot)
Trimmed 8x10 inch contact print, 1939
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| The "Amputated Foot" was brought to Sommer by his physician. Doctor Born was an amateur photographer, who had seen Sommer's pictures of chicken parts and promised to, "one day bring something worth photographing." The irrepairable foot was amputated from a young hobo who had fallen asleep while riding the rails near Askfork, Arizona. This photograph has always evoked strong feelings. When first published in Aperture 9:3 1961 under the title "Detail," there were several letters sent to the editor concerning Sommer's subject matter (Aperture 9:4 1961). There is a long history of artists studying and making anatomic studies from Leonardo da Vinci onward and Sommer was honoring this tradition. |
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