River Of Colour: The India of Raghubir Singh [Paperback]

Raghubir Singh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2000

This is a retrospective view, since the mid-1960s, of the work of Raghubir Singh, one of India's greatest photographers. Published to mark the occasion of an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago, it contains images of India, with an introduction by Singh and quotations from works by noted writers about India, such as Kipling and V.S. Naipal. Since the 1960s, Singh has roamed far and wide across the vast expanses of India, from the source of the Ganges and the ghats of Benares, to Bombay and the Himalayas. In his introduction, he explains what India means to him - focusing in particular on colour. Arranged in 11 thematic sections, the images capture the sights and smells of streetlife, monuments and pilgrims to create a comprehensive picture of daily life in India.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the first retrospective collection of the work of Indian photographer Singh (The Grand Trunk Road: A Passage Through India, Aperture, 1995), whose work is in the permanent collections of several major U.S. museums. Singh has been compared to Henri Cartier-Bresson in his ability to capture the day-to-day life of ordinary people. In the book's preface, David Travis, curator of photography at the Art Institute of Chicago, remarks that in Singh's photographs, "the wise and mad cultural heritage of India is out in the streets for everyone to see." Unlike Cartier-Bresson, however, Singh uses color with aplomb. In his introductory essay, "River of Color: An Indian View," Singh voices his theories about color, photography, and art in general. This large-format volume features 128 full-page and two-page color photographs, divided by theme. They are followed by four pages of notes. Highly recommended for photography and art collections.?Ravi Shenoy, Hinsdale P.L., IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

At their best his pictures are filled with narrative incident and visual surprise, in a manner that is based in the decisive-moment approach of Henri Cartier-Bresson but that also is indebted to the more radical framing of Garry Winogrand. Of all of Singh's books to date, this is the most essential and stirring. -- The New York Times Book Review, Andy Grundberg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press; 1st edition (September 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714839965
• ISBN-13: 978-0714839967
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,346,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, compelling photography, January 28, 2000

By 

J. Kohnstamm (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River of Colour: The India of Raghubir Singh (Hardcover)

If you have ever been to India, or have ever wished in your mind's eye to go there, this is the book for you. Singh's legacy is to offer captivating images. Even my five year old daughter will sit and look at each image for the longest time, and think of what is seen -- just like a visit to India itself!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indians View of India, October 9, 2001

By 

Goddess of Light "Osunyoyin Alake" (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River of Colour: The India of Raghubir Singh (Hardcover)

Ragubir Singh's India is poignant,stark, vital and alive. His photographs of everyday life in India are glimpses into the soul of all strata of Indian life. Whether seeing a mother and child, two little girls who are best friends, or the incredible paradox a rich man and his luxury car juxtaposed to the glaring,overwhelming poverty and human suffering, one can't help but be deeply moved and touched by the vibrant movement flowing through each and every image in this visual journey to the real India.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How do you capture India ???!!!, January 22, 2005

By 

Nitin Kapoor (Frankfurt, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River Of Colour: The India of Raghubir Singh (Paperback)

India is a difficult country to understand and even more difficult to explain, in words or pictures! Rughubir Singh has captured the chaos of India which take you right into the bylanes of Varanasi/Banaras. This is my favourite(infact the only picture book) gift to a lot of my western friends, most of whom have visited India before. The pictures are simply too powerful. If you have any facination for that land, you cant afford not to have a look at Mr. Singh's pictures.