Robert Doisneau's Paris
The best selection of Robert Doisneau's magical, timeless 35mm street portraits taken in Paris and its suburbs. TASCHEN's Wall Calendars feature 12 big and beautiful reproductions, an elegant layout for the days of the month, and all official holidays for your country.
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Readers who do not recognize Doisneau's name are more likely to recognize some of the French photographer's iconic images of mid-century Paris. In this handsome oversize volume (10x12.5"), Doisneau's daughters Francine Derondille and Annette Doisneau have assembled a stunning collection of 560 of their father's black & white photographs of the city. His beautifully composed images are often both humorous and poignant. They include street scenes, interiors, and portraits, all of which reveal his affection for the city and its inhabitants. Many of these images have never before appeared in print. The images are accompanied by quotations taken from Doisneau's private notebooks and from published works. Simultaneously published in French as Doisneau Paris. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Publishers Weekly Photographer Doisneau (1912-1994) had a tremendous gift not only for portraying the beauty of Paris but for capturing the charm of its citizens; some of his images have come to define Paris, even for those who've never visited. Most of the 600 photos in this classic collection feature at least one person, and the expressions on their faces are so real they feel staged. One, of a young woman finishing a roller-coaster ride, catches her with a look of "mon dieu, I thought I'd die!" The way Doisneau composes his images, focusing on a subject's "aura" ("that kind of neon light," he says, glowing around certain people) is striking. He possesses a satirical eye for humor (e.g., the shots of various sculptures doused in pigeon droppings) and the bizarre (a Monsieur Beauvoir sitting at a bar with a large bird perched on his shoulder). The chapters are broadly thematic (the one on war and politics is particularly powerful); within chapters, there are themes: e.g., butchers, the Metro, visitors observing the Mona Lisa. Doisneau's commentary appears throughout, as his photographs-whether from the 1940s or the 1990s-illustrate a society that is alternately refined, puzzling and, above all, human. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
\ Publishers WeeklyPhotographer Doisneau (1912-1994) had a tremendous gift not only for portraying the beauty of Paris but for capturing the charm of its citizens; some of his images have come to define Paris, even for those who've never visited. Most of the 600 photos in this classic collection feature at least one person, and the expressions on their faces are so real they feel staged. One, of a young woman finishing a roller-coaster ride, catches her with a look of "mon dieu, I thought I'd die!" The way Doisneau composes his images, focusing on a subject's "aura" ("that kind of neon light," he says, glowing around certain people) is striking. He possesses a satirical eye for humor (e.g., the shots of various sculptures doused in pigeon droppings) and the bizarre (a Monsieur Beauvoir sitting at a bar with a large bird perched on his shoulder). The chapters are broadly thematic (the one on war and politics is particularly powerful); within chapters, there are themes: e.g., butchers, the Metro, visitors observing the Mona Lisa. Doisneau's commentary appears throughout, as his photographs-whether from the 1940s or the 1990s-illustrate a society that is alternately refined, puzzling and, above all, human. (Nov.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalAs one of the most popular French "street photographers," Doisneau (1912-94) is known worldwide for his playful, eccentric, and unpredictable views of Parisian life. From 1929 to the mid-1990s, he photographed his beloved city with a subjective eye, portraying it as a romantic, captivating place. Many of his photographs, most notably The Kiss, which has been mass-produced in poster form, have achieved iconic status. This exhaustive collection presents more than 600 images-many previously unpublished-divided into five thematic sections: "Paris by Surprise," "Paris in Upheaval," "Paris for Parisians," "Paris at Play," and "Paris in Concrete." It is edited by Doisneau's daughter, Derondille, who pairs the photographs with quotations from her father's personal writing that illustrate his optimistic philosophy. Derondille also includes a biography of the artist and a bibliography of his work. This work nicely complements previous books on Doisneau, which include Doisneau Portfolio, Doisneau Paris, and Peter Hamilton's Robert Doisneau: A Photographer's Life. Recommended for all collections.-Shauna Frischkorn, Millersville Univ., PA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.\ \
