Walter Benjaminrsquo;s essay lsquo;A Short History of Photographyrsquo; (1931) made bold statements about photographic pioneers such as David Octavius Hill and Niceacute;phore Nieacute;pce; and the social and historical context of their work. This first selection of Benjaminrsquo;s writings on photography includes a new translation of this influential essay as well as a range of Benjaminrsquo;s other writings; both published and unpublished; some of which are translated into English for the first time here. Esther Lesliersquo;s introduction covers Benjaminrsquo;s writing on early photographic methods and aesthetics; his analysis of the commercial studio photography of the lsquo;decadentrsquo; bourgeoisie; the use of photographs in scientific research; and other innovative photographic methods such as the lsquo;auralessrsquo; images of Eugegrave;ne Atget and the lsquo;new visionsrsquo; of August Sander and Germaine Krull. Leslie discusses Benjaminrsquo;s take on the evolution of photography into a modern form; the universal fascination with the seemingly simple postcard ndash; an interest dating back to Benjaminrsquo;s own childhood ndash; as well as the special relationship he found between Paris and the photographic method. As a notable philosopher; critic and uniquely imaginative thinker; Benjaminrsquo;s essays offer a fascinating critique of early photography. With a substantial introduction; contextualizing prefaces and comprehensive glossaries; Esther Leslie guides the reader through Walter Benjaminrsquo;s multifaceted engagement with the significance of photography.
#1570904 in eBooks 2016-04-25 2016-04-25File Name: B01H972JZ0
Review
