Product Description In 1958, the first edition of Robert Frank's The Americans was published in Paris. Les Americains contained Frank's 83 photographs in the same sequence as all subsequent editions, with the image on the right hand page, but juxtaposed with historical texts about American society and politics, gathered by Alain Bosquet. The following year, in the first American edition, the French texts were removed and an introduction by Jack Kerouac was added. Over the subsequent 50 years, The Americans has been republished in many editions, in numerous languages, with a variety of cover designs, and even in a range of sizes. It is the most famous photography book ever published, and it changed the face of the medium forever. Robert Frank discussed with his publisher, Gerhard Steidl, the idea of producing a new edition using modern scanning and the finest tritone printing. The starting point was to bring original prints from New York to Goettingen, Germany, where Steidl is based. In July 2007, Frank visited Goettingen. A new format for the book was worked out and new typography selected. A new cover was designed and Frank chose the book cloth, foil for embossing, and the endpaper. Most significantly, as he has done for every edition of The Americans, Frank changed the cropping of many of the photographs, usually including more information. Two images were changed completely from the original 1958 and 1959 editions.
Amazon.com Review Armed with a camera and a fresh cache of film and bankrolled by a Guggenheim Foundation grant, Robert Frank crisscrossed the United States during 1955 and 1956. The photographs he brought back form a portrait of the country at the time and hint at its future. He saw the hope of the future in the faces of a couple at city hall in Reno, Nevada, and the despair of the present in a grimy roofscape. He saw the roiling racial tension, glamour, and beauty, and, perhaps because Frank himself was on the road, he was particularly attuned to Americans' love for cars. Funeral-goers lean against a shiny sedan, lovers kiss on a beach blanket in front of their parked car, young boys perch in the back seat at a drive-in movie. A sports car under a drop cloth is framed by two California palm trees; on the next page, a blanket is draped over a car accident victim's body in Arizona.
Robert Frank's Americans reappear 40 years after they were initially published in this exquisite volume by Scalo. Each photograph (there are more than 80 of them) stands alone on a page, while the caption information is included at the back of the book, allowing viewers an unfettered look at the images. Jack Kerouac's original introduction, commissioned when the photographer showed the writer his work while sitting on a sidewalk one night outside of a party, provides the only accompanying text. Kerouac's words add narrative dimension to Frank's imagery while in turn the photographs themselves perfectly illustrate the writer's own work.
Very inspirational December 21, 2008 Great book, not much new to say about it. But I find it fantastically inspirational in that it again show a series of very successful images based in vision and imagery instead of tools and mechanics. For today's photographers its very easy to get trapped in megapixel and the latest lens race.. this is a book shot for images. If you are a photographer or into photography, just buy the book and start enjoying, you will come back to this over and over again.
Documentary Photography at its best! December 6, 2008 Robert Frank's "The Americans" is a great lesson in documentary photography - the images transport you to the moment, making you part of what is happening, as an observer. Robert Frank even lets the subject realize his presence by direct eye contact, letting the viewer know S/he is also being observed. I like his breaking of symmetry of lines, creating tension in his compositions, making us ask questions, search for answers about the image. A great book!
The Americans December 6, 2008 Robert Frank is an iconic photographer of American life. For people in their 50's or older it is nostalgic. And for those younger, it is a visual slice of our history. There are many stories here. A good book.
Robert Frank, not Jack Kerouac October 31, 2008 contrary to what is listed, The Americans is by Robert Frank, the photographer. the photos are timeless and i still use them to teach photography to college students jack kerouac only wrote the forward. set the record straight for non-photographers. thank you.
iNTERESTING September 24, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent print quality.. A glance at common people in random daily-life shots. It's a book worth a place in your hands
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