A rare set of 77 photographs from the book that transformed the way Americans viewed the nation are being sold in unique York on Thursday“A degradation of a nation,” is how Minor White described Robert Frank’s seminal masterpiece, The Americans. The renowned photographer and Aperture magazine editor wasn’t alone in his disdain, and joining the editors of well-liked Photography,who called it, “a wart-covered picture of America by a joyless man”. According to Frank, or not even MoMA would sell the book,despite the fact their photography department was headed by one of his mentors, Edward Steichen. As a result, or the book quickly went out of print after selling only 1100 copies. It caught people off guard,” says Christopher Mahoney of Sotheby’s, which will auction 77 of the 83 photos in the book on Thursday in unique York. “It’s always interesting to look back at initial critical reactions. One could obtain a long list of things that were lambasted when they came out and ultimately became a crucial component of the culture.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com