Joseph Beuys
Characteristic of Maggs' early work are his black-and-white portraits taken from the front, side and back, and presented in grid formation exemplified in the internationally acclaimed portraits of Joseph Beuys, "Joseph Beuys: 100 Frontal Views, Düsseldorf, 21.10.80" and "Joseph Beuys: 100 Profile Views, Düsseldorf, 21.10.80". Created in Beuys' Düsseldorf home in 1980, the images appear to be identical, but are 200 different photographs of Beuys attempting to sit completely still. The same year, Maggs photographed André Kertész, then 86, in his "André Kertész, 144 Views". His grid work "fascinated, disturbed and exerted tremendous influence in art and magazine circles," wrote Martha Langford in 2010.