A new history of photography
(Book)

Translation of: Nouvelle histoire de la photographie.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 758-768) and index.

covers the beginnings of the art form through 160 years to the present. While the 41 essays by 29 contributors have a European slant, American photographic movements are not slighted. There is much discussion of photography as art vs. photography as history and the commentary comes down firmly on both sides. War photos as well as images by Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen appear, and there is even a section on "Photographs as Memories." Walker Evans and Lewis Carroll are included as well as entire portfolios of important contributions, e.g., W. Eugene Smith's Pittsburgh. The writings are certainly useful and interesting, but the real impact of the book is the sheer abundance and diversity of its over 1000 black-and-white and full-color photographs. An extensive bibliography, notes, and index make this a useful tool for students of history as well as those studying art and photography,