1967-1972 (negative); 1978 (portfolio publication)

Untitled

Paul Caponigro

American, born 1932

Long a source of wonder and debate, Stonehenge, in southern England, comprises an ancient earthwork (a "henge") and the remains of a later prehistoric circle of monumental standing stones and lintels. The site's alignment suggests it was created to mark solstices, but its intended purpose, whether scientific, religious, or otherwise, is not definitively known. Paul Caponigro, a photographer admired for his sensitive landscape work, was powerfully drawn to this mysterious landmark. His photographs emphasize the weathered surfaces of the massive stones and their statuesque presence.

In his prospectus for the portfolio, Caponigro writes, "Stones-some of the earth's most solid and weighty parts-when uplifted, can be seen as a symbolic human act expressing aspiration and balance. The stones, balanced to a feeling of weightlessness, stand enduringly like timeless sentinels to eternity."