Das faszinierende fotografische Werkschaffen des Künstlers William Ropp gehört zu den richtungsweisenden Portfolios der letzten Jahrzehnte und hat zu Recht  international für Furore gesorgt. Von vielen Künstlern der Szene als Vorbild genannt, ist das herausragende Talent des Fotografen die Entwicklung neuer Bildperspektiven und dramaturgischer Kompositions- elemente, deren signifikanter Rhythmus ein Gefühl von belebter Materie vermittelt. Der besondere Reiz seiner grandiosen Aktaufnahmen liegt mit Sicherheit in diesem Perspektivwirbel, der bei jedem Betrachten neue erotische Landschaften enthüllt und Gefühle wiederzugeben vermag, deren flüchtiger Gestus sich am ehesten noch in der klassischen Musik findet - ein Muß für jeden Liebhaber erotischer Kunst!

It was a long time ago – yes, it was in the last century I saw those magnificent pictures – and I was disquieted, irritated, touched – almost a little unnerved. I have looked around in vain – with a miserable desire to glean some explanation, a guide…..…and yet nobody came. I have pondered, deeply, whether these photographs might even be from the century before last (meaning the nineteenth century)– I didn't know where to place them – they could not be pigeonholed. So I studied them over and over again – to find an explanation. Eyes gazed from these pictures, watched me peacefully though beseechingly: their look burned into my brain asking countless questions - squirming under that pursuant gaze I looked away – and yet I couldn't help but look again: the people, these human beings watched me ceaselessly and their clear, bright eyes unmoved. Questions hung motionless, persistent in the charged air. I felt as though I had been taken by surprise, naked… My common, unswerving approach had received a battering. And I asked myself again: are these photographs from the 19th century? Had these people ever lived? Is there a message, a mission from our world? Those eyes! Especially the eyes of the children: clear, cold, omniscient – question follows question – but there is no answer. Is it art or are my senses deluded? I am certain of one thing: if it wasn't' art I would not be considering it so deeply. Such a multitude of questions! And then I saw the light: Art is not here to answer questions – it is here to pose them. Above all I thought of a comparison with the great Balthusa – why, those children are seemingly adults, old as the world – and what is more: the images are not mere illusions, chimeras or phantoms; it is us, our childhood is captured in each of these photographs like a whole tree in a mere seed –everything is there: past and future – but above all our presence, a presence full of doubts and loss of faith. But there is also a deep belief that a man is good, that he hasn't changed, languished and become corrupted by the course of centuries – and above all there is a message, tidings that we humans are beautiful – and that life is worth living. I have remembered that. After many years I met William. In a moment I saw that the artist doesn't always have to be identified with his work: he was a normal healthy man, happy and well-meaning – and see: at the same time he is gifted with the ability to show things and express thoughts hidden, deep down in the darkest recesses of our souls. Oh – mysterious currents of subconscious! France, that beautiful country which gave not a few good things to the world! And Monsieur William Ropp and his work is one of them –without doubt. Jan Saudek

W i l l i a m R O P P
(born in 1960)

e.mail w.ropp@free.fr

http://w.ropp.free.fr