Title: the role of the photographer is on the contrary to express a profound experience with it
Category: Person
Who: Glinn
Date: 2008-03-25 19:58
LOUIS STETTNER has had a long and distinguished career in photography. Starting at the age of thirteen,
encouraged by Alfred Steiglitz and Paul Strand, his photographs are now in such permanent collections as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
While there have been significant exhibitions in the United States and Europe, his work remains relatively unknown to the general public. Greatly appreciated by fellow photographers and discerning collectors,
the problem as photography critic Kelly Wise aptly states: "rarely is his work shown in breadth."
Which is precisely the purpose of his book Early Joys. Slowly a legend has blossomed about his early photographs (1947 - 1972) that has strongly influenced young hotographers.
Yet its true scope and depth has been only available to those fortunate enough to visit his print room.
There is a most stirring and perceptive Introduction by his teacher and lifelong friend, the famous French photographer Brassai (Stettner is the only photographer to be honored):
"Stettner has always been fully conscious that the role of the photographer is not to turn away from all reference to reality,
but on the contrary to express a profound experience with it."
There is the photographer's own observations about the photographs included, as well as an in-depth statement about his fundamental outlook to his Art entitled Case for the Indestructible Image.
With the bibliography are essays and reviews (covering 25 years) by noted photography critics that clarifies and enriches our appreciation and enjoyment of his photographs.
The book Early Joys should become a classic reference to the photographs of this great American photographer.
--From Early Joys
