Williams College Museum of Art Presents
Beautiful Suffering: Photography and the Traffic in Pain
January 28–April 30, 2006
Spring Exhibitions Press Release
This exhibition of photographs drawn from contemporary art, advertising, and photojournalism, explores the ethics and aesthetics involved in depicting human suffering. Through work by such diverse photographers as Alfredo Jaar, An-My Lê, James Nachtwey, Andres Serrano, and Sebastião Salgado, the exhibition documents some of the key debates concerning the aestheticization of suffering in photography, and considers the ethical, economic and political impact of the production and circulation of these images. The exhibition, and an accompaning catalogue, is organized by Williams College professors Erina Duganne, Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow in the History of Photography; Holly Edwards, Lecturer in Art; and Mark Reinhardt, Professor of Political Science and American Studies, in conjunction with Stefanie Spray Jandl, Mellon Associate Curator for Academic Programs at WCMA. Supported by the Oakley Center for the Humanities and Social Sciences at Williams College, this exhibition will complement “Extreme Documentary: Alternative Verité,” a multidisciplinary conference organized by the Oakley Center, in collaboration with MASS MoCA, to be held April 7–9, 2006.

The Williams College Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the museum is wheelchair accessible. Contact: Suzanne Augugliaro, Public Relations Coordinator, 413.597.3178.

Publicity Images Available

Publicity images for Beautiful Suffering: Photography and the Traffic in Pain and other current exhibitions are available for use.

These images are for members of the press only. Click the thumbnails below for high resolution images and email Suzanne Augugliaro, Public Relations Coordinator, once you have downloaded them. Please be sure to include the correct credit information in your publication.