The Photobook: A History. Volume 1 , édition en langue anglaise

Photographers have been making photobooks - bound collections of their works - ever since the birth of photography in the early nineteenth century. While for some photographers the single print is considered the ultimate expression of their work, for many others the photobook is the most important and accessible vehicle for the widespread communication of their vision. This publication tells the story of photography via the history of the photobook, revealing the ways in which photographers have influenced each other's work through their books, and consequently how their use of' photography bas developed over time. It features volumes by celebrated photographers ranging from William Henry Fox Talbot, Walker Evans and August Sander to Lorry Clark and Nobuyoshi Araki, by way of Man Ray, Brassaï and Christer Strömholm. Several innovative books by unknown and even anonymous photographers have also been included, offering an opportunity for readers to discover these exciting, overlooked works. The first of two extensive volumes, this publication explores more than 200 photobooks through 750 colour illustrations, detailed captions, and an illuminating text written by the Photographer and critic, Gerry Badger. The books featured were selected by both Badger and the renowned contemporary Photographer Martin Parr, whose passion for the photobook has made him a world authority on the subject. They have chosen what they believe to be the most artistically and culturally important photobooks in the history of the medium. The illustrations not only locus on individual works featured in the books, but also present the volumes themselves as three-dimensional objects, providing a true sense of the photobook as an artwork in its own right.