Bob Seidemann

BOB SEIDEMANN
 
 
Bob Seidemann  is an American graphic artist and photographer best known for the creation of several album covers and portraits of musicians in the 1960s and 1970s.  Seidemann first gained notoriety in 1967 for a photographic interpretation of the Pietà. He reversed the traditional subjects, depicting a mourning male cradling the body of a nude female, with a graphic combination of sexuality and violence.  In 1969, Eric Clapton formed a new band, and Seidemann was commissioned to create the cover for their album.  Seidemann photographed a nude 11-year-old girl to create what would become his most famous and controversial work, titled “Blind Faith”.  Not only did it become the cover and title of the album, but the name of the band as well.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

The striking photograph on the British cover of the group’s sole album, Blind Faith shows a young topless girl holding a shiny metal winged object that reminds me of a hood ornament.  The cover shot was created by photographer Bob Seidemann, a good friend and former flatmate of Eric Clapton who had also photographed Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead The image was titled “Blind Faith” by Seidemann, and that became the name of the band Blind Faith as well. 

 

(May 2014)

 

Last edited: March 22, 2021