Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945

Witkovsky, Matthew S.; . Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945. New York: Thames & Hudson, (2007). First American edition. 4to. xxix,[3],278pp. Red cloth with black lettering on spine in original photographic dust jacket. “In the 1920s and 1930s, photography became an immense phenomenon across Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. It fired the imagination of hundreds of progressive artists, provided a creative outlet for thousands of devoted amateurs, and became a symbol of modernity for millions through its use in magazines, newspapers, advertising, and books. It was in interwar central Europe as well that the history of photography as a modern art form was established. Published to accompany an exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, this book presents the creations of approximately one hundred individuals whose work redefined the very notion of art and embodied at times a dizzying freedom from traditional social roles. Matthew S. Witkovsky’s perceptive text explores topics ranging from the avant-garde (surrealism, experimental photography) to popular culture (tabloids, sports, the “new woman”) to extremist politics and war. He pays particular attention to photomontage, a technique that epitomized the era and found broad acceptance among vanguard artists and mass media outlets. Familiar names such as László Moholy-Nagy, Josef Sudek, and the Bauhaus are connected to a wealth of individuals and organizations whose influence is being rediscovered for the first time. The book includes an introductory essay by Peter Demetz, as well as maps, biographies of the featured photographers, and a scholarly bibliography.” Profusely illustrated with 192 color and 59 b/w reproductions of photographs and various art work. Elaborate catalogue with works by Albert Renger-Patzsch, Karel Hájek, John Heartfield, Hans Bellmer, Max Burchartz, Max Ernst, Lotte Jacobi, Arthur Köster, El Lissitzky, Sasha Stone, Roman Vishniac, Paul Wolff, and many others. Published on the occasion of the exhibition “Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945”. The exhibition took place in 2007 & 2008 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Scottish National Library of Modern Art in Edinburgh. Very minor creasing on corners of dj. Small stain on fore-page edge, otherwise a tight copy with dust jacket and book in fine condition. Hardcover. (24948) $65