Ex Libris: Ralph Gibson Photographs (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this, Ralph Gibson’s 30th monograph, books themselves have become objects of fascination, examination, and veneration. From the early days of ancient Roman stone carvings to the revolutionary printing of the Gutenberg Bible through today’s explosion of information on the Internet, Ex Libris chronicles the written record, offering a new interpretation of the signs, letter forms, shapes, and images used to document human history. Features images from the world’s greatest book collections and libraries, including the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris; the British Museum; the New York Public Library; the Pierpont Morgan Library; and the Cairo Museum.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: powerHouse Books (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576871002
• ISBN-13: 978-1576871003
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #776,567 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye on the Page, June 8, 2001

By	John W. Warren (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

ExLibris is a fascinating work of art. Gibson's sublime eye, previously dedicated to such wonderful subjects as the female form (see INFANTA or WOMEN) here turn to photographs of books, both ancient and modern. The photographs have almost a tactile, three dimensional feel... Gibson captures a hand touching an ancient copy of the Koran and you can literally feel the connection through time. Pages juxtapose images of faces and pages... Sculptures, coins, cybercafes, the Internet, strange faces, hieroglyphics, all find a way into this mysterious book. The only thing that might have been nice is some words of explanation regarding the subject of the photos (there is a very brief description of sources and images). This book will fascinate any bibliophile as well as lovers of fine photography.