Berenice Abbott Book order

Berenice Abbott was one of the most versatile photographic artists of the twentieth century, with her work gaining recognition since 1925. Best known for her Paris portraits from the 1920s and her documentation of New York City in the 1930s, Abbott's reputation has often been based on a limited selection of her work. Many of her remarkable photographs remain lesser-known, primarily due to the challenges she faced during her most creatively fertile years, particularly between 1929 to 1935 and 1940 to 1959. During these times, financial struggles hindered her ability to publish or promote her work, limiting her projects and exposure. The Unknown Abbott seeks to address this gap by showcasing Abbott’s exceptional yet largely undiscovered images. Gerhard Steidl, who previously published two volumes of Abbott's work, is set to reissue these books soon. In early 2011, Steidl collaborated with editors Hank O’Neal and Ron Kurtz to explore future Abbott projects, leading to the creation of a series focusing on various aspects of her career. This ambitious project will present five volumes, featuring a wide range of her work, from early New York photographs to depictions of American cities before the Civil War, and vibrant scenes from California and Daytona Beach. The Unknown Abbott aims to expand the understanding of her photographic legacy beyond her most recognized works.

Fascination with scientific advances motivated Berenice Abbott to use photography as “the friendly interpreter of science.” Documenting Science explores her work from 1939, showcasing early experiments with scientific imagery, commercial assignments, and the 1958 Physical Science Study Project at MIT, which illustrated new physics textbooks. This remarkable body of work is among Abbott’s most innovative and creative, combining beauty and instruction to illustrate fundamental scientific principles. These images have transformed how thousands of students visualize complex physics concepts. Born in 1898 in Springfield, Ohio, Abbott became a key figure in twentieth-century American photography. After moving to Paris in 1921, she was hired by Man Ray in 1923 as an assistant with no prior photography experience. She quickly learned the craft and held her first successful solo exhibition in 1926. Over the next 65 years, Abbott mastered various subjects, with notable projects including Changing New York (1935–1938), documenting rural America along US Route 1, interpreting scientific and natural phenomena, and establishing Eugène Atget's reputation. She also founded the first university photography program in the U.S. In 2008, a two-volume retrospective was published, highlighting her significant contributions to photography and science.

Der Autor Timm Starl untersucht zu Beginn seines Textes ein junges Sammlungsprojekt in Wien und stellt die Frage: „Who the Hell is Sputnik?“ Er findet grundlegende Antworten und beschreibt Sputnik als einen Außerirdischen, der die Erde umkreist und als Synonym für eine Außenperspektive dient. Diese Perspektive bietet einen neuen Blick auf Fotografien und eine alternative Auffassung vom Sammeln überlieferter Werke. Das Projekt basiert auf zwei bemerkenswerten Sammlungen, die eine besondere Sichtweise eröffnen und das Eigenwillige sowie Exklusive beinhalten, um außergewöhnliche Ausstellungen zu ermöglichen. Sputnik repräsentiert somit einen Standpunkt. Fritz Simak, geboren 1955 in Wien, ist Musiker, Künstler, Fotograf, Sammler und Kurator. Andra Spallart, 1952 im Rheinland geboren, lebt seit 1995 in Wien und sammelt klassische Fotografie. Timm Starl, Dr. h. c., geboren 1939 in Wien, ist freier Kulturwissenschaftler, Ausstellungskurator und Fotopublizist. Er gründete 1981 die Zeitschrift Fotogeschichte und arbeitete an einer Datenbank zur Fotografie in Österreich von 1839 bis 1945. Starl lebt im Weinviertel und in Wien und beschäftigt sich mit der theoretischen Bestimmung der Fotografie.

An introduction to and overview of famed photographer Berenice Abbott's work.

Nearly 100 classic images by noted Rockefeller Center on the rise, Bowery restaurants, dramatic views of the City's bridges, Washington Square, old movie houses, rows of old tenements laced with laundry, Wall Street, Flatiron Building, waterfront, and many other landmarks.