Szilvia Molnar’s photo series, “The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette” has been a bright spot on Twitter, illuminating the self-seriousness that drives many male author’s cool-guy headshots with funny, amateur recreations. As of this week, the artist and writer — who works in the publishing industry — has tackled a variety pack of male writers from around the world: Mr. My Struggle himself, Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard, along with England and Brooklyn’s Martin Amis, Swiss writer Peter Stamm, and, of course, Brett Easton Ellis, as American as apple pie. We can only hope that she finds a photo of Jonathan Franzen smoking (rumor has it he does smoke weed).
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Karl Ove Knausgaard
Molnar: “I think the spark came from seeing how the McNally Jackson event with Knausgaard and Zadie Smith was promoted (by his publisher). The pictures they used were just so different from each other — Knausgaard is brooding with his cigarette and Zadie is kind of sensual with an inviting directness. It’s interesting that there’s such a disparity when they’re equally brilliant and respected authors.”
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Karl Ove Knausgaard 2
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Karl Ove Knausgaard 3
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Martin Amis
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Martin Amis 2
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Martin Amis 3
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Martin Amis 4
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Peter Stamm
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Peter Stamm 2
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Peter Stamm 3
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Brett Easton Ellis
Photo Credit: Maria Marqvard Jensen
The Man, The Writer, and His Cigarette with Brett Easton Ellis 2