American photographer Mitch Epstein has published seven books of his works, including Family Business (2003) and Recreation: American Photographs 1973–1988 (2005). His photographs are found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. Among his many awards are a Guggenheim Fellowship (2003) and the Berlin Prize in Arts and Letters (2007–2008). Epstein has also been a director, cinematographer, and production designer on several films, including Dad, Salaam Bombay! and Mississippi Masala. He lives in New York City.
You Will Be Wrapped in Silk
“And how do you merit to live so long?”
—Because I know there is need to consider.
At my birth someone said, “He will be wrapped
in silk.” And now the guests are…
Hybrid creatures with four wings supporting deity in Persian seal impression, 6th or 5th century BCE. Biblical imagery and ancient Near Eastern iconography offer some parallels to the creatures…
Snow has fallen, with no light. A month
has gone by now or two, since autumn in its monkish cowl
brought tidings my way, a leaf from Ukrainian slopes:
“Remember it’s wintry here too, for the…