Edward Steichen : The Early Years
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
Edward Steichen : The Early Years Details
From Library Journal Edward Steichen (1879-1973) produced many of his strongest photographs from the 1890s to World War I, the period covered here in examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Steichen took up photography as a teenager and by the age of 23 was headed toward celebrity status as his photographs won the admiration of artists as well as fellow photographers. He was in demand as a portraitist of the rich and famous but produced some of his finest work in the portraits of other artists and in nude studies. His photographs of the Flatiron Building and other New York scenes have defined those spaces since. Steichen's misty, moody, subtle, multilayered photographs--made from experimental, painterly printing methods of the period--are reproduced here in amazing fidelity through four-color digital offset lithography. Smith (department of photographs, Metropolitan Museum of Art) provides a carefully researched and highly readable biographical and interpretive essay that illuminates the diverse influences on Steichen. Highly recommended for all photography and fine art collections.-Kathleen Collins, Bank of America Corporate Archives, San Francisco Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more Review "These soft-focus, moody studies of light, landscape, and form by this 20th-century master have a painterly, almost impressionist feel to them. The nudes are lushly erotic; the portraits daunting examinations of heroes and barons at the turn of the last century."---Cate McQuaid, Boston Globe"This definitive edition includes all of Steichen's New York photographs. . ."---Laura Cumming, The Evening Standard"Alfred Stieglitz controlled the world of art photography at the beginning of the century and, not surprisingly, Steichen became its first full-blown star. But, as 56 plates in this exquisitely produced book make clear, there is a redeeming aspect to Steichen's ambition: his pictures are incredibly good. . . . Joel Smith, in an essay as remarkable for its readability as for its erudition, manages to breathe life into the pictures."---Andy Grundberg, The New York Times Book Review"Steichen's misty, moody, subtle, multi-layered photographs made from experimental, painterly printing methods of the period are reproduced here in amazing fidelity. . . . Smith provides a carefully researched and highly readable biographical and interpretive essay that illuminates the diverse influences on Steichen. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)"Second Place in the 1999 Special Trade/Photography category, New York Book Show""The near-facsimile quality reproductions of early photographs by Steichen in duotone and full colour, printed on acid-free paper and enlivened by a fascinating, meticulously researched and readable biographical account of his activities, concerns and achievements from 1899 to 1924, demonstrate a benchmark standard of excellence in academic publishing." (The Art Newspaper)"Beautifully illustrated. . . . The author's tightly written text is presented with thorough and pertinent notes and will contribute to readers' enjoyment and appreciation of Steichen's brilliant images and career. A welcome and important addition to the field and highly recommended for all levels of readers." (Choice)"A beautifully written addition to the literature on Edward Steichen and recommended for readers both unfamiliar with and knowledgeable about his work."---Lucy Bowditch, Afterimage"One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2000""Steichen's famous images of New York's Flatiron buildings are illustrated with four examples to reveal the unique quality of each of his prints. In a lesser book, four images of the same subject might be gratuitous, but in this case each work complements the next. . . . [There is] only one image printed per spread, a luxury that is justified by the quality of the artwork and the fine printing."---Stephan F. F. Jost, The Art Book Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
In the History of Photography, this is a must have of one of the giants to work behind the dark cloth. I bought it for the cover photograph which I admire for it's tonality and color. In addition to this iconic print, I also wanted a reproduction of his Platinum print with applied color called The Pond - Moonrise,1904, which is my all time favorite, but to my great dismay, was a 2 page spread meaning that it ran into the "gutter", which in my opinion ruined the overall emotional response. For me, it would have been much better to have it on a single page. There are other prints done in the same manner and that is why I can only give it 4 stars. Other than that, it is a great source of inspiration with good reproduction quality.