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Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art [Paperback]

John Szarkowski
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 1976
Originally published in 1973, this marvelous collection of photographs with accompanying texts by the revered late Museum of Modern Art photography curator John Szarkowski has long been recognized as a classic. Reissued in 1999-with new digital duotones-this volume is now available to a new generation of readers.
"This is a picture book, and its first purpose is to provide the material for simple delectation," says Szarkowski in his introduction to this first survey of The Museum of Modern Art's photography collection. A visually splendid album, the book is both a treasury of remarkable photographs and a lively introduction to the aesthetics and the historical development of photography.
Since 1930, when the Museum accessioned its first photograph, it has assembled an extraordinary and wide-ranging collection of pictures for preservation, study and exhibition. Among the outstanding figures represented here are Hill and Adamson, Cameron, O'Sullivan, Atget, Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand, Weston, Kertesz, Evans, Cartier-Bresson, Lange, Brassai, Ansel Adams, Shomei Tomatsu, Frank, Arbus and Friedlander.
Some of these photographs are classics, familiar and well-loved favorites, many are surprising, little-known works by the masters of the art.

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Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art + The Photographer's Eye + The Nature of Photographs: A Primer
Price for all three: $62.81

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 216 pages
  • Publisher: The Museum of Modern Art, New York (September 1, 1976)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0870705156
  • ISBN-13: 978-0870705151
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.7 x 11 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Szarkowski (December 18, 1925 - July 7, 2007) was a photographer, curator, historian, and critic. From 1962 to 1991 Szarkowski was the Director of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
(13)
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found the title and editorial description rather misleading: "A visually splendid album, the book is both a treasury of remarkable photographs and a lively introduction to the aesthetics and the historical development of photography."

I found the book disappointingly short on the aesthetics part. The book contains 100 photographs and a short essay/note on each of them. Now, most of the text is actually about the background of the photograph. Mostly about the photographer and situation photographed and some on the printing process employed. Generally only the last paragraph is devoted to some comments on the image itself. I really expected to learn more about Szarkowski's thoughts on the images as such.

The book is much better on the historical part. The essays are quite enjoyable and have given me a small background knowledge of the historical development of photography. There is something about the authors lucid style of writing that appeals to me, and seduced me to actually complete the read and rather enjoy it even though it turned out to be very different from what I expected.

The historical part deserves a 5 star rating, however both the title and editorial description suggests a more comprehensive treatment of the aesthetical part. I therefore give it a 3 star rating.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you think that you can appreciate a photographic image try to look at the images in this book and explain what you see and why do you like it or not. And then read the short essay by John Szarkovski. You will be amazed how rich is his language and precise is his judgment on each photograph and photographer. You can open this book randomly day after day and get inspired and motivated with exemplary classics accompanied with explanation of what has been achieved by each and how does it make difference for us today and for the whole history of art and craft of photography.

This book is a perfect gift for someone who not only enjoys photographs by others but wants to form a vision of his own. It is full of hints for creativity carefully selected and presented with perfection.

The duotone prints in the book are done on the great paper with amazing in quality.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Just order it January 12, 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, back in print finally,this is a must have addition to your photographic library. The criticism of images from MOMA, by John Szarkowski, will open your mind to the story behind the photographs. It is a cliff notes of a master class in understanding photography.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly Work
This is a scholarly work by Szarkowski which makes engaging and insightful reading. Each page is prefaced by a short essay, most of which relate directly to the image. Read more
Published 9 months ago by GP
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Photo book!
THis is for every collection. Whetehr you collect photgraphs or take them. This should be on your bookshelf. Own it.
Published 15 months ago by chupacabrathe wookie
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, more than I expected
The book was in better shape and came sooner than I expected. Amazing read too, I'm keeping it in our library.
Published 17 months ago by A. Ullman
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the classics
Imagine you are invited to spend the day viewing the photography collection of The Museum of Modern Art, and your guide for this visit will be none other than John Szarkowski, one... Read more
Published 20 months ago by I cannot live without books
3.0 out of 5 stars LOOKING and SEEING but not KNOWING.
Looking at photographs is without doubt one of those books which has influenced many students and teachers, and is highly recommended if you want to become a photographer or... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Bruce Hart
4.0 out of 5 stars What a private tour of MOMA's photo collection might be like
I also came to know of this book from Mike Johnston's "The Online Photographer" blog. Reading this book is like having a personal non-hurried guided tour of 100 significant works... Read more
Published on April 24, 2010 by Michael Brochstein
5.0 out of 5 stars If your interested in learning to see better...
I found this book to be both inspiring and educational...it critiques each image and helped me to see my photograhy a bit more clearly. Read more
Published on November 27, 2009 by C. Dalessandro
5.0 out of 5 stars Taught Me To See!
I bought this wonderful book with my Christmas or birthday money over thirty years ago, when I was a teenager first interested in the art of photography. Read more
Published on August 7, 2009 by George Lenard
5.0 out of 5 stars Looking at Photographs - Available Again
Thanks to the reliable and insightful reviews and discussions on Mike Johnston's "The Online Photographer", I've had the opportunity to purchase several fine books about... Read more
Published on May 12, 2009 by Lawrence Siegel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about photographs
This is a great book about photographs of MOMA, written in a very clear and inspired fashion
Published on May 12, 2009 by Alexandre Marques
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