Man's Best Friend [Paperback]

William Wegman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1982

This book faithfully reproduces 25 of the finest photographs, taken with a rare Polaroid camera, resulting from an unusually close partnership of man and dog, Wegman's Weimaraner, Man Ray. Together, they have created a series of images that play upon the great variety of human and animal life that surrounds us.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

William Wegman is widely respected for his photographs of the majestic Weimaraner dog. One of his first models (and longtime companion) was a pooch named Man Ray, who passed away in 1982. This beautiful dog also plays a starring role in Man's Best Friend, where he is caught posing, napping, and playing in more than 40 (mainly color) photographs. Wegman dresses his dog in a variety of costumes--transforming him into a strange new creature--half man, half canine. Each exquisite portrait is a testament to Man Ray's beauty--and the strong bond between dog and master. This handsome book is one you'll admire time and time again. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This amusing volume is photographer Wegmen's tribute to Man Ray, not the fellow shutterbug but his dog and partner whom he dressed up as everything from an elephant to an Indian chief. There are also some fine portraits of the dog just as a dog. Great fun, and you can't beat the price.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; First Edition edition (October 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810922665
• ISBN-13: 978-0810922662
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,926,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Form and Function, January 12, 2004

By 

Tamara Brettmann (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man's Best Friend 2004 Wall Calendar (Calendar)

Year after year, Bill Wegman continues to enchant us with the beauty and often hilarity of his Weimaraner subjects. Not just dogs playing dress-up, like most great art, Wegman offers a variety of images and meanings. He keeps us and his dogs on our toes by jumping from deliberate cuteness and impeccible fashion photography to dramatic sillouettes that turn dogs into surreal landscapes and abstract designs. Wegman sparks our imaginations, challenges us to laugh at both ourselves and our society, and brings us stunning visual photography. A calendar that says "I'm cool," with art that says "Cindy Crawford, you're not." I'll take "Man's Best Friend 2004" over poodles and lighthouses or shrunken Old Masters any day!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wegman is a genius!, December 8, 2000

By 

"chcooper3" (Brookshire, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man's Best Friend Calendar (Wall Calendars) (Calendar)

I guess it takes a Weimaraner owner to appreciate the true genius of Wegman's photography. Weims are the most enigmatic, animated, tireless and human-like dogs I have ever known. Baylee, our 1 year old Weim, has no idea that she's not human!! you'll learn that he has been a Weim lover going on 30 years now and it definitely shows in his photography.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hmmm . . . interesting, August 13, 2004

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man's Best Friend (Hardcover)

I don't pretend to understand modern art, nor did I know the name of either William Wegman or his famous Weimaraner dog Man Ray before coming across this book (and let me say it's pretty hard not to notice a coffee table book with a picture of a dog with elephant tusks and a trunk on the cover). I just love dogs. I don't, as a general rule, like to see them dressed up to look silly (although I get a kick out of seeing doggie sweaters and the like), but that is not what is going on here. Well, Man Ray does look a little silly in a few pictures, but the introductory text of this book of photos makes it clear that Man Ray loved posing for his human and basically begged to be included in Wegman's work from the time he was a puppy. As for the whole clothing thing, it actually began as a way for Wegman to hide the weight Man Ray put on as he got older - of course, it soon became an object of fascination for the artist.

This is not a thick book. After an introductory text featuring several small black and white photos, the book consists of 24 full-page color prints of Man Ray in different outfits and different poses. Several of them don't do a lot for me, especially the ones with Man Ray dressed up as an old woman or a bag lady, but there are some very poignant shots here. I love the one with Man Ray, sporting little horns, seemingly peering out from within the flames of a fireplace. A photo titled Broken/Hurt is amazing; beautifully shot, the somber expression on the dog's face will draw you right in to the photograph. Blue Portrait features two touching photos of Man Ray expressing sadness; the expressiveness this dog was able to put forth is really quite amazing. There are a few somewhat comical shots as well: Brooke has our canine model showing off a new pair of jeans, Frog is guaranteed to get a snicker out of you, and there's an adorable photo of Man Ray and another dog lying in bed watching television.

If you love dogs, especially Weimaraners, you might like this book. Just remember, there isn't much more to it than 24 color photographs and a short introduction. Man Ray, who died in 1982, did enjoy a fair share of fame in contemporary art for his modeling work, and I would have to say that modern photographic art lovers are much more likely than dog lovers to enjoy Wegman's work.