La France de Profil

Strand, Paul

Code: 2597

ISBN: 9780893818746

Publisher: Aperture

New Hardcover First Edition

Price: £50

Out of stock

Originally published in French by La Guilde du Livre (Lausanne, Switzerland, 1952) and now reissued by the Aperture Foundation in a first English-language edition, this a profile of life in mid-century rural France by the great American photographer Strand (1890-1976). Following World War II, Strand moved to France and documented its rural areas in photographs. These close-up, seemingly candid images of the people, the countryside, and the architectural structures contain Strand's characteristic style of realism, depth of detail, and innate sensitivity to the environment. To supplement these exquisite pictures, French poet Roy, who knew Strand personally, provides a delightfully lyrical potpourri of poems, commentary, and collages assembled from bits of small-town newspapers. The timeless spirit of the Gallic legacy captured in the photos and words will be savored by Francophiles. A similar regional portrait by Strand, in collaboration with Nancy Newhall, is titled Time in New England (LJ 12/1/50). This work was reviewed from an unbound galley, so the quality of the approximately 100 duotone reproductions cannot be effectively evaluated. Nonetheless, Strand's importance in 20th-century photography makes this a highly recommended addition for public libraries and special photography collections.