Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Books on Books #11: Alexey Brodovitch Ballet.






Books on Books #11: Alexey Brodovitch Ballet. Essays by Kerry W. Purcell, Edwin Denby, Jeffrey Ladd. Errata Editions, 2011. 142pp., illustrated throughout 9,5x7".

The Errata Editions Books on Books Series is an "on-going publishing project dedicated to making rare and out-of-print photography books accessible to students and photobook enthusiasts. These are not reprints or facsimiles but complete studies of those originals.

Each in this series presents the entire content, page for page, of an original master bookwork which, up until now, has been too rare or prohibitively expensive for most to experience. Through a mix of classic and contemporary titles, this series spans the breadth of photographic practice as it has appeared on the printed page and allows further study into the creation and meanings of these great works of art.

Each in the Books on Books series contains; illustrations of every page in the original photobook being featured; a new essay by established writers on photography composed specially for this series; production notes about the creation of the original edition; biography and bibliography information about each artist."


Books on Books #11 is dedicated to Alexey Brodovitch's 'Ballet', which was "published in 1945 is one of the most legendary of photobook masterpieces.

While already established as a leading influential art director and graphic designer, Brodovitch turned his photographic talents towards rehearsals and performances of ballet companies visiting New York stages. Shot in 35mm and disregarding traditional conventions of 'good' technique, Brodovitch pushed the boundaries of description to create a panorama of images that perfectly captures the motion and spirit of dance.

Books on Books #11 reproduces every dynamic page spread from this rarely seen volume along with a contemporary essay written by leading Brodovitch scholar Kerry William Purcell."

No comments: