Joel-Peter Witkin (55) [Paperback]

Eugenia Parry (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0714840564 | ISBN-13: 978-0714840567 | Publication Date: January 5, 2001

This volume - investigating the work of a particular photographer, in this case, Joel-Peter Witkin - comprises a 4000-word essay by an expert in the field, 55 photographs presented chronologically, each with a commentary, and a biography of the featured photographer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (January 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714840564
• ISBN-13: 978-0714840567
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Small repros. Not much info at all (5 pages, large print), November 20, 2007

By 

GJ "GJ" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joel-Peter Witkin (Hardcover)

WARNING: amazon seems to have merged (a little TOO conveniently) reviews for two DIFFERENT BOOKS. Some reviews listed here refer to "Joel-Peter Witkin (Phaidon 55s)" by Eugenia Parry (Paperback - January 5, 2001) - with pinkish border around a photograph on the cover. But this book seems to be out of print.

My review refers to a 2007 Photology series book (all b&W cover with the image of a head and lillies). They are not the same book, or even two editions of the same book.

For those who hope this will give them a review of, and some insight into, Witkin's work, this will be a disappointment. Yes, the reproductions are of very good quality, but at the book's size, most of the fascinating DETAIL of major pieces is lost. I remember seeing a Witkin exhibit at the Reina Sofia in Madrid years ago (that included many pieces reproduced here), and part of the fascination with those images comes from studying the large images up close. While I realize that to talk about "size" in reference to photographs is somewhat strange, the book does not list the actual sizes at which those images were printed for their original, exhibit presentation - this is important, since based on the repros in the book, most people will have no idea that there were originally very large prints. The book also includes only a few close-up / detail plates, and as far as I can tell, none at the actual print size. Alas, ALL the commentary there is, is a 6 page (very small pages, with very large print) general intro.

PLEASE NOTE that, misleadingly, one of the reviews listed on this page refers to a different, now out-of-print book: there is NO commentary on individual images in this book. The very general, brief intro is ALL there is.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phaidon Press 55 Series, September 18, 2001

By 

Mike Purvis (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joel-Peter Witkin (55) (Paperback)

I have a couple of these volumes and they are wonderful. The reproduction quality is very good and the comments on each image are informative, interesting, and concise.

Phaidon has a great habit of producing well produced books on the visual arts and their photography volumes are no exception. It would be difficult to find a better value.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inexpensive introduction to Joel-Peter Whitkin., February 16, 2003

By 

J. Hancock (indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joel-Peter Witkin (55) (Paperback)

There is no cheaper way to become aquainted with the work of master photographer and artisan, Joel-Peter Whitkin. His work is renowned world wide and skillfuly reproduced in this book. My only complaint on this selection is that the book is small and this makes it difficult to view some of the images.