Marc Riboud in China

by Marc Riboud

It was a major feat when, in December 1956, Marc Riboud became one of the first Western photographers to enter China after the Communist takeover of 1949. A member of the famed Magnum photo agency, Riboud was permitted to return to China at regular intervals over the next four decades, observing and recording the enormous changes that have taken place.
French journalist Jean Daniel provides a thoughtful introduction and Riboud himself comments on each photograph, explaining the time, the place, and the circumstance. This is a book that will intrigue and disturb - through its insights into the soul of the Chinese people, and through its picture of a nation transforming itself with such wrenching speed.

Genres: Photography, China, Art

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Marc Ribaud is a French photographer, best known for his extensive reports on the East: The Three Banners of China, Face of North Vietnam, Visions of China, and his most recent, In China.

Reviews

[Owlseyes]

"Marc Riboud, Photojournalist Who Found Grace in the Turbulent, Dies at 93"
in:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/wor...

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Riboud's photography are iconic, instinctive in the way he captures moments, humanity, kindness, chaos, turmoils through gestures, eye contact, expressions, atmospheres and cultural contexts. Serene visual language translates timeless messages and transcends through place and time.

I was browsing the State Library aisle and picked this book up. Beijing nostalgia abounds!

Notes (and some floating thoughts/observations to remember):

P20. 1965, Liulichang. Frames within frames from windows into a series of tableaux. Each squares have connecting narratives of its community, life in hutong, different generations interacting with each other. I miss this place to observe the periphery hutong life, I used to wander and get lots of brushes and calligraphy paper here!

P29. 1957, Anshan. Group of men having meals, chowing fast with lifted chopsticks and bowl of rice near face. Man wearing oddly circular glasses in focus. Why?

P32. 1957, Yangtze. Lines, lines, lines, the eye travels with the intersecting lines, narratives of manual labour at the port, gestures of peaceful endurance and strength.

P34. 1957, Wuhan. Scrap sailboat, 3 ladies, smiles, serenity surrounding the waterways

Part2: Political atmosphere in Beijing's Tiananmen, Shanghai, Shenyang.

P63. 1992, Shanghai. People, escalators, mirrors, reflections. People multiplying in all infinite directions. Executed perfectly in black and white.

P66. 1957, Beijing. This could be today, timeless! Child climbing towards the bottom of the door. Is this Yonghegong?

P113. 1993, Guangzhou. Lady on Nintendo Gamboy, man on brick phone. Similar interaction today with modern devices.

P114. 1993, Shandong. Sleeping, napping, resting waitresses in the kitchen, half preparing bread. This still happens. Familiarity brings a certain nostalgia however minute these fleeting moments may occur.

P128. 1992, Shanghai. Ladies walking in synchronised steps, stomping with identical mid heeled shoes. Duplicates, clones, replicants.

P159. 1994, Beijing. Man in a black suit, reading a newspaper, sideways sitting inside a car with feet out and shoes off. Strange, surreal and comedic.

[Stu Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Riboud is (was?) a French photographer who spent a lot of time in China. This is a collection of photos from the early days of Mao, the cultural revolution, and the opening during Deng’s reign. It’s a fascinating entrance into his work.

[N. N. Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, poignant, funny, dispiriting; artistically, historically, sociologically and humanly interesting and important photographs.