Karl Lagerfeld: Akstrakt [Hardcover]

Karl Lagerfeld (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Steidl collectors books | Publication Date: February 2, 2001

In his latest work, photographer Karl Lagerfeld addresses and explores the notion of Form. In doing so, he takes on the freedom to liberate--in the Beuysian sense--the very concept of art itself, including its implications regarding man's physicality. The strictly conceived and carried-out study Akstrakt consists of only 13 plates, and formally takes up where the Bauhaus left off. The design and production of the book follow rigorously exact rules: the photographs, varnish-sealed in the costly and painstaking tritone process, were printed on Phoenixmotion-Xantur paper. The book block was laid out as a Japanese brochure, encased in a cloth binding with a two-color brass-stamped plate.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karl Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg in 1938. His twin passions have always been fashion and photography. He has received numerous awards for his work in Germany and abroad, and his images have been presented in several major exhibitions and publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Steidl; Slipcase edition (February 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 388243757X
• ISBN-13: 978-3882437577
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 10.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,064,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive contribution to photography as art, April 29, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karl Lagerfeld: Akstrakt (Hardcover)

Hardbound in a slipcase, Karl Lagerfeld's Akstrakt explores the notion of "form" and in doing so, builds upon Lagerfeld's previous photographic work exploring man's physicality. This amazing photographic study consists of 13 tritone photo plates, formally taking up and expanding the tradition of Bauhaus photography. Lagerfeld presents an aesthetically beautiful portrayal of the male body as an architectural form. The photographs are varnish-sealed in a tritone process, printed on Phoenixmotion-Xantur paper, and laid out in the manner of a Japanese brochure, encased in a cloth binding with a two-color brass-stamped plate. Akstrakt is an impressive contribution to photography as art and the use of photography to showcase the male form within a fascinating context of geometry and lighting.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not very abstract, August 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Karl Lagerfeld: Akstrakt (Hardcover)

In this book Lagerfeld examines the form of man and cardboard oval. The "male" form is contrasted with the shape of the cardboard, and is supposed to be "artistic." This is hardly creative, and could have been much better accomplished. In the end, a novel idea bears little fruit.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the Notion of Form!, April 23, 2003

By 

Joseph J. Hanssen "Joe" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Karl Lagerfeld: Akstrakt (Hardcover)

Although this is a small book it is very impressive indeed. Lagerfeld, in these 13 tritone photo plates, beautifully shows the male body as an architectural form. All 13 plates are of the same model, and the lighting and shadowing is exceptional. This book is a work of art. Hardbound in a slipcase, these photographs are varnish-sealed in a tritone process, on Phoenixmotion-Xantur paper. Lagerfeld has clearly achieved the joining of photography as art in his presentation of form. Lagerfeld continually amazes the world with his creative photography and an imagination that produces new & different concepts in each new book published. A masterpiece of art form!

Joe Hanssen