The Rouge. Photographs by Michael Kenna

Kenna, Michael; Ellen Sharp (intro.); Lee R. Kollins (text). The Rouge. Photographs by Michael Kenna. Santa Monica: Ram Publications, 1995. First edition. Folio. (9)pp., (1) 50 plates., (4)pp. Original black cloth with blind-stamped lettering on cover and spine, in original photo-illustrated dustjacket. Black illustrated endpapers. Titel page printed in red and black. “Michael Kenna’s first photographs in the 1970’s were of the landscape. In 1983, the death of the renowned English photographer Bill Brandt (b. 1904), whose work had been a major influence on Kenna, prompted him to visit the industrial sites which Brandt had photographed in the 1930’s. They were only a few miles from Kenna’s birthplace. The result was his first serious industrial photographic study, created of a four year period from 1983–1987, of the cotton and wool mills in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Photographs such as Bill Brandt’s Chimney, Halifax, Yorkshire, 1983 and Bill Brandt’s Snicket, Halifax, Yorkshire, 1986, were taken in homage to Brandt.” (Ellen Sharp, from written communication between Kenna and Sharp). Illustrated with fifty stunning full page b/w industrial photographs. Lists of exhibitions and books at rear. Dustjacket with light wear along edges. Very light age-toning along edges of block, not affecting photographs. vg to near fine. Hardcover. (48167) $65