Willy Ronis by Willy Ronis: The Master Photographer's Unpublished Albums

(Hardback)

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The definitive reference on master French photographer Willy Ronis, this volume reproduces personal and previously unpublished photo albums of his work that he curated and commentated throughout his career.

A key figure in twentieth-century photography, Willy Ronis conveyed the poetic reality of postwar France in iconic black and white photographs. Influenced by Alfred Steiglitz and Ansel Adams, and amicable with his contemporary Magnum photographers, Ronis was the first French photographer to contribute to Life magazine. In the 1950s, MoMA curator Edward Steichen featured Ronis-along with Henri- Cartier Bresson, Robert Doisneau, and Brassa- in the groundbreaking exhibitions The Family of Man and Five French Photographers .

Throughout his life, this powerhouse of humanist photography kept meticulous record of his work, curating each era into albums, which are reproduced here for the first time. Timeless photographs of postwar France and its inhabitants are accompanied by the photographer's original observations and comments, framing the images within their technical and historical context. Photography historian Matthieu Rivallin's critical perspective adds nuance to the photographer's notes, and the ensemble is a groundbreaking and definitive reference on the myriad aspects of the artists' immense career and is an essential volume for all photography aficionados.

Reviews

"Known for conveying the reality of post-war France through black and white images, Ronis is recognised as a key figure in 20thcentury photography. Flammarions publication showcases personal and previously unseen works, each framed within their technical and historical context offering an intimate and definitive compendium of the artists oeuvre." Aesthetica Magazine

Author Bio

Major twentieth-century photographer Willy Ronis (19102009) contributed to Life, Vogue, and Time, and he received numerous international awards. Exhibition curator and author Matthieu Rivallin manages the twentieth-century-photography archives at the Mediathque de lArchitecture et du Patrimoine in Paris.