Paul Strand: Sixty Years Of Photographs (Aperture Monograph) [Paperback]

Calvin Tomkins (Author), Paul Strand (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2009 | Series: Aperture Monograph

Paul Strand: Sixty Years of Photographs, a long-unavailable Aperture classic, is one of the most comprehensive surveys of the power and force of a major photographic figure of our time. Before his death in 1976 at age eighty-five, Strand combed his photographic prints and his many books with an eye to the completion of this volume. Seen here is the summation of a lifework, from the first abstract photographs to the series of plant photographs taken in the last years of his life. Also included is a rarely examined series of filmsUbrilliant, unprecedented documentaries that foreshadowed Italian neo-realism and the new cinema of the post-war years. The re-release of this volume, which features the famous biographical profile by Calvin Tomkins and excerpts from Strand's correspondence, interviews, and other documents, makes one of photography's major artists newly accessible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Aperture; First Edition edition (April 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0900406828
• ISBN-13: 978-0900406829
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valedictory for a Great Artist, May 31, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paul Strand: Sixty Years Of Photographs (Aperture Monograph) (Paperback)

PAUL STRAND: SIXTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHS is an immensely successful book. Not only is it a true pleasure to renew acquaintance with the famous images of Paul Strand, it is the knowledge that Strand himself selected the images to be included in this book just before his death in 1976. Calvin Tomkins provides a sensitive and insightful history and eulogy and elected to include documents of Strand's correspondence and various writings to round out this memento mori.

But words are words and cannot begin to explain the simple, haunting beauty of the photographic images of Paul Strand. Whether the viewer's preference is for the portraits of mesmerizing faces captured in the direct simplicity of an encounter on the street or for the light sculpted landscapes or the still life images that are rich in metaphor, this collection of Strand's work is simply impeccable. The only appropriate words this reviewer can summon would be those encouraging lovers of fine art to buy this collection. It is Strand's own valedictory to an immeasurably important career. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 05

5.0 out of 5 stars Very comprehensive look at Paul Strand, December 9, 2011

By 

alsomama (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Paul Strand: Sixty Years Of Photographs (Aperture Monograph) (Paperback)

I used this book to prepare for a presentation on Paul Strand. I found it to be comprehensive and entertaining. I found the profile of Strand by Calvin Tompkins to be quite engaging and full of detail not found elsewhere. It also includes a nice selection of Strand's photography over the many decades he worked. His work is inspirational--I recommend this book to aspiring photographers.

5.0 out of 5 stars All I can say is Wow!, November 2, 2011

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David W. Schumacher - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paul Strand: Sixty Years Of Photographs (Aperture Monograph) (Paperback)

My mentor recommended this book to me. I have seen some Paul Strand work and knew I wanted to see more. This book arrived and what a wonderful collection. To make it even better, the quality of the image printing is like having an original silver-gelatin print in my hand. It is masterfully done. And the quality of Strand's work certainly deserved this kind of high quality printing. Best surprise was that I got a brand new First Edition (marked) from Amazon.

My feeling about Strand's work is that he explored abstractions as a photographer decades before the likes of Wynn Bullock, Edward Weston, Brett Weston and others. Unbelievable work.