Clarence John Laughlin (1905–1985) was an American photographer and writer best known for his surrealist photographs of the American South. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he moved to New Orleans after a failed family business venture. A self-taught photographer who began working with a view camera at age 25, Laughlin became a pioneer of photographic surrealism in the United States. His work often featured haunting, monochromatic depictions of decaying architecture and plantation homes, influenced by his interest in literature and French symbolism. He was also an avid book collector, amassing a library of over 30,000 volumes focused on science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre. His major works include 'Ghosts Along the Mississippi' (1948) and 'The Personal Eye' (1973).[1,2,3,4]
Ghosts Along the Mississippi: The Magic of the Old Houses of Louisiana1948 · book · EnglishFeatures 100 black and white images focused on Southern architecture.
Clarence John Laughlin: The Personal Eye1973 · Aperture · book · EnglishISBN 0912334541Monograph produced for his 1973-74 exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Exhibitions
1973Clarence John Laughlin: The Personal EyePhiladelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphiasolo
