But he has never stopped to think about its real-life subject, and only now does he discover his image's devastating impact.
And, not surprisingly for a scholar who pursues real-life subjects, the death also informed Levitt's work.
So why have most of its real-life subjects liked it?
Such histrionics, though tempered over time, remained a feature of his work, sometimes applied to real-life subjects.
Unlike Erik Bruun's series, this series did not depict any other real-life subjects, but only abstract ornaments in addition to the person depictions.
Although the dispute died down, it highlighted the unfortunate effect even sensitively made books and movies can have in renewing the pain for their real-life subjects.
His work ranges from themes about exploring unknown wilderness territories to candid and intimate portrayals of real-life subjects.
A 'Doors' Nay-Sayer Now and then the real-life subjects of movies don't like the way they come across on screen.
While he was respected in the art world for embracing real-life subjects, in the community the art was seen as stereotypical and degrading.
Taking a real-life subject, after all, instantly solves the problem of coming up with characters and a storyline.