Customer Reviews

Richard Nickel's Chicago: Photographs of a Lost City

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So much of Nickel's reputation is tied to his tragic efforts to save and document Chicago's architectural legacy that a critique of his technical and artistic skills often takes second place. The broad scope of the work displayed here illustrates both, as well as giving evidence of his prolific output. The images show a mastery of large and small formats in subject, tone and composition.

All together, a melancholy delight of Modernist photography.

Chicago's population grew from 30,000 to over a million and a half in less than 50 years. The building boom created great skyscrapers, public gathering places and mansions. By the 1950s many of of these wonderful buildings were surrounded by slums, and they and many of the gems in the Loop were decimated and discarded.

This collection of 250 duotones created by Richard Nickel is a record of what has been lost. Richard Cahan, a co-author, writes: "This is a biography through pictures. Most photo books are portfolios, showcases of a photographer's skill. This one, I think, is more of a poem."

Richard Nickel's life story has often been told, for example, in Richard Cahan's They All Fall Down: Richard Nickel's Struggle to Save America's Architecture and in the wonderful review of this book that appeared in "Chicago Reader".

The book itself is even more revealing. The first few images are of people, usually shown looking away or even from the back; it's almost as if Nickel cannot interact with humans.

But the images of buildings have an extraordinary life; in those images people sometimes give scale or other insight to the buildings. Some of my favorites include Sullivan's Garrick Theater, the Walker Warehouse, the Babson residence, the concourse of Union Station, the Republic Building, Sullivan's house designed for his brother Albert, even the 1893 Stock Exchange Building on LaSalle where he died.

Cahan captures the essence of the book: "It's like watching a train, as a long train goes by you when you see the cars and you get the rhythm of the train, you stop looking, and then when the caboose comes by, all of a sudden you take a close look, because that's the last moment you'll see the train. And part of the, the beauty of his pictures is that these buildings are about to go under, you'll never see them again."

Nickel wrote in 1971: "In a city of slums why must the quality buildings be doomed?. . . You can't convince me there are no alternatives."

Live with these wonderful images for awhile, and you may feel some of Nickel's passion for these lost buildings. I certainly did.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Richard Nickel was a talented photographer and advocate of preserving buildings that were historically significant architectural masterpieces.

Regrettably, Chicago's political leaders, including Mayor Richard J. Daley, and the leaders of the city's building and trade unions wanted the jobs and dollars generated by demolition of existing buildings and the employment and prosperity promised by authorizing new construction projects. Nickel waged a lonely and futile battle as he petitioned the city to preserve and protect historic landmark buildings.

Nickel painstakingly photographed many of the buildings designed by the architectural firm of Adler & Sullivan. He took great care to document Sullivan's ornate design details. Sometimes, Nickel had no sooner developed his film than the residences, office buildings and theaters in his pictures were scheduled to face the wrecking ball.

Nickel lost his own life while he was inside the shell of the once magnificent Stock Exchange Building and the partially demolished building collapsed. Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan were two of the most eminent architects in Chicago history, but time and urban change doomed many of their buildings. Only a handful of their buildings survived the turbulent Sixties. Sullivan was nearly forgotten by the time of his death and his friends had to raise funds to provide him with a proper burial and a cemetery monument.

This is a beautiful book that is lavishly illustrated with photographs. The author incorporated many of Nickel's own notes into the text. Chicago belatedly created a historic landmark commission after many of the most deserving buildings were bulldozed.

Equally beautiful and heart-breaking. These pages capture some really stunning photographs of Chicago architecture that are so easily forgotten among the steel and concrete that is Chicago now. Definitely important for young generations to get to see. I've always loved Chicago architecture and still maintain that Chicago has one of the best skylines in the world but it was lovely to see a different side.

This volume is an absolute must have for any aspiring (or professional) historian of the Chicago architectural movement. Just to be able to see what the city looked like long ago, was worth the view provided by this picturesque compilation. Kudos to Mr. Nickel for preserving for us and future generations, what was the folly of the Father Daley's administration: misunderstanding and disrespect for the value of architecture.

Great addition to my library. Exceptionally rare and beautiful photographs of a city I hadn't known. Making this book even more special was the inspirational and moving story of Richard Nickel. Would highly recommend!