Paris Changing: Revisiting Eugene Atget's Paris
Christopher Rauschenberg, Rosamond Bernier, Clark Worswick, Alison NordstromOverview
Between 1888 and 1927 Eugne Atget meticulously photographed Paris and its environs, capturing in thousands of photographs the city's parks, streets, and buildings as well as its diverse inhabitants. His images preserved the vanishing architecture of the ancien rgime as Paris grew into a modern capital and established Atget as one of the twentieth century's greatest and most revered photographers.Christopher Rauschenberg spent a year in the late '90s revisiting and rephotographing many of Atget's same locations. Paris Changing features seventy-four pairs of images beautifully reproduced in duotone. By meticulously replicating the emotional as well as aesthetic qualities of Atget's images, Rauschenberg vividly captures both the changes the city has undergone and its enduring beauty. His work is both an homage to his predecessor and an artistic study of Paris in its own right. Each site is indicated on a map of the city, inviting readers to follow in the steps of Atget and Rauschenberg themselves. Essays by Clark Worswick and Alison Nordstrom give insight into Atget's life and situate Rauschenberg's work in the context of other rephotography projects. The book concludes with an epilogue by Rosamond Bernier as well as a portfolioof other images of contemporary Paris by Rauschenberg. If a trip to the city of lights is not in your immediate future, this luscious portrait of Paris then and now is definitely the next best thing.
Synopsis
Between 1888 and 1927 Eug ne Atget meticulously photographed Paris and its environs, capturing in thousands of photographs the city's parks, streets, and buildings as well as its diverse inhabitants. His images preserved the vanishing architecture of the ancien r gime as Paris grew into a modern capital and established Atget as one of the twentieth century's greatest and most revered photographers.
Christopher Rauschenberg spent a year in the late '90s revisiting and rephotographing many of Atget's same locations. Paris Changing features seventy-four pairs of images beautifully reproduced in duotone. By meticulously replicating the emotional as well as aesthetic qualities of Atget's images, Rauschenberg vividly captures both the changes the city has undergone and its enduring beauty. His work is both an homage to his predecessor and an artistic study of Paris in its own right. Each site is indicated on a map of the city, inviting readers to follow in the steps of Atget and Rauschenberg themselves. Essays by Clark Worswick and Alison Nordstrom give insight into Atget's life and situate Rauschenberg's work in the context of other rephotography projects. The book concludes with an epilogue by Rosamond Bernier as well as a portfolio of other images of contemporary Paris by Rauschenberg. If a trip to the city of lights is not in your immediate future, this luscious portrait of Paris then and now is definitely the next best thing.
Edward Cone - Library Journal
Eminent French photographer Atget devotedly photographed the French capital and surrounding area from the late 19th century up until 1927. This compendium of the photographer's oeuvre during the belle epoque is an enchanting catalog of the city's streets, parks, neighborhoods, shops, and, only occasionally, its people. As if this were not already feast enough for the eyes, during the late 1990s photographer Rauschenberg, son of artist Robert Rauschenberg, covered the same ground to update these sites for a photographer's view of the modern Paris. This volume features 76 pairs of images-Atget across from Rauschenberg-in rich duotones that you'll want to reach out and touch. Sometimes the paired images look almost identical; other times, the "updating" is more apparent. Maps are included to help readers find their way around the city, while essays by Clark Worswick and Alison Nordstrom provide a context and Rosamond Bernier writes an epilog. Recommended for larger photography collections.
Editorials
Library Journal
Eminent French photographer Atget devotedly photographed the French capital and surrounding area from the late 19th century up until 1927. This compendium of the photographer's oeuvre during the belle epoque is an enchanting catalog of the city's streets, parks, neighborhoods, shops, and, only occasionally, its people. As if this were not already feast enough for the eyes, during the late 1990s photographer Rauschenberg, son of artist Robert Rauschenberg, covered the same ground to update these sites for a photographer's view of the modern Paris. This volume features 76 pairs of images-Atget across from Rauschenberg-in rich duotones that you'll want to reach out and touch. Sometimes the paired images look almost identical; other times, the "updating" is more apparent. Maps are included to help readers find their way around the city, while essays by Clark Worswick and Alison Nordstrom provide a context and Rosamond Bernier writes an epilog. Recommended for larger photography collections.
βEdward Cone