Description
ED VAN DER ELSKEN
Book Summary
This catalogue, published for the most comprehensive retrospective exhibition dedicated to Ed van der Elsken in Spain, offers an integral view of the work of the photographer considered the most important Dutch artist of the 20th century. The reader will discover the work of a "street photographer" who found inspiration on the fringes of major cities, portraying rebellious youths and transgressive figures. Through his images, the book explores a bold and personal style that positions him as a unique figure in the history of photography.
What is it about?
The work traces the career of Ed van der Elsken, an artist who combined photography and documentary film with a deeply personal and unconventional gaze. The book focuses on his working method, based on wandering the streets of cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Tokyo in search of striking characters and spontaneous stories. Van der Elsken did not simply capture reality, but acted as an art director, seeking the framing and complicity of his subjects to create images charged with energy and emotion. His style, influenced by photographers such as Robert Frank and William Klein, is characterized by bold composition and a visceral closeness to the most vibrant and marginal urban environments.
Main themes
- Street photography and urban documentary.
- Portraiture of rebellious youth and counterculture.
- Nightlife and the fringes of society in major cities.
- Cinematographic work and its relationship with photographic practice.
- Personal style and staging as a narrative tool.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at photography enthusiasts and professionals, students of art and visual history, and collectors interested in 20th-century European documentary photography. It will also be of great interest to those seeking a raw and authentic look at urban life and postwar youth, as well as followers of the work of photographers like Robert Frank or William Klein.
What this book offers
- An exhaustive, retrospective view of the work of one of the most influential European photographers of the 20th century.
- Access to a curated selection of images and film material, contextualized by subject matter experts.
- An understanding of a unique photographic style that fuses documentary with a personal and provocative aesthetic.
- An analysis of the social and cultural context of major cities through the eyes of an inimitable artist.
Technical specifications
- Author: CAMPANY, DAVID; GOLDIN, NAN; VISSER, HRIPSIMÉ
- Publisher: FUNDACION MAPFRE
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: EXHIBITION AND SPECIFIC COLLECTION CATALOGUES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS
- Collection: EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: January 2018
- Number of pages: 288
- Weight: 1800 g
Editorial review
This catalogue is presented as an essential reference work for understanding the figure of Ed van der Elsken. The combination of high-quality visual content with analysis by renowned specialists makes it a valuable volume for both academic study and aesthetic appreciation. Its focus on the photographer's most transgressive and "street" side makes it especially attractive to an audience interested in photography that challenges conventions and delves into the complexity of urban life.