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People of the Twenty-First Century
People of the Twenty-First Century is an enormous and completely fascinating collection of 'anti-sartorial' photographs of street life by the Dutch conceptual artist/street photographer.
From Amsterdam to New York and Paris to Shanghai, these photographs, taken over a period of more than twenty years, provide a cumulative portrait of the people of the twenty-first century. A magnetic panoply of images, this cult object has a place in the library of every photography book collector as well as anyone interested in contemporary culture.
Democratic, apolitical and unique, the archive of thousands of images offers an engrossing and engaging cross-section of society.
Over the course of the last two decades, Hans Eijkelboom worked methodically on his monumental Photo Notes project: First he would select a busy pedestrian area – his favourite spots were often near shopping centres – where he would stay for 30 minutes up to a few hours. He then spent time observing passers-by before recognizing a common type, normally based on a garment, sometimes a behaviour: people in band T-shirts, fur caps or beige trench coats; young couples walking arm-in-arm; women in suit dresses; men with gelled hair or pushing shopping trolleys… He snapped them with a camera hung around his neck, attached to a trigger in his pocket. Back in the studio, the images were laid into grids called Photo Notes. Their simplicity of form and presentation belies their complex anthropological, social and artistic commentary.
From Amsterdam to New York and Paris to Shanghai, these photographs, taken over a period of more than twenty years, provide a cumulative portrait of the people of the twenty-first century. A magnetic panoply of images, this cult object has a place in the library of every photography book collector as well as anyone interested in contemporary culture.
Democratic, apolitical and unique, the archive of thousands of images offers an engrossing and engaging cross-section of society.
Over the course of the last two decades, Hans Eijkelboom worked methodically on his monumental Photo Notes project: First he would select a busy pedestrian area – his favourite spots were often near shopping centres – where he would stay for 30 minutes up to a few hours. He then spent time observing passers-by before recognizing a common type, normally based on a garment, sometimes a behaviour: people in band T-shirts, fur caps or beige trench coats; young couples walking arm-in-arm; women in suit dresses; men with gelled hair or pushing shopping trolleys… He snapped them with a camera hung around his neck, attached to a trigger in his pocket. Back in the studio, the images were laid into grids called Photo Notes. Their simplicity of form and presentation belies their complex anthropological, social and artistic commentary.
512 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 30, 2015
there are 2 constants throughout the decades: old men in trenchcoats and berets, and people in shapeless leather jackets.
at first I didn't pay attention to the times listed, but then I realized he was taking all of these shots within 20 minutes sometimes. It's fascinating to see trends come and go - spice girl shirts, patchwork neon windbreakers, etc.
at first I didn't pay attention to the times listed, but then I realized he was taking all of these shots within 20 minutes sometimes. It's fascinating to see trends come and go - spice girl shirts, patchwork neon windbreakers, etc.
January 8, 2022
Great study in repetition and difference! It's fascinating to see the little (and sometimes big) differences between people, places, and times. Love it.
August 18, 2018
in one word: shocking!
ینی آدم ماتش میبره وقتی میبینیه عکاس توی هر صفحه، صفحه رو پر کرده از عکس آدمایی که عین هم، عین هم لباس پوشیده ن! آدم میبینه ا آره واقعا هممون عین هم شدیم. ا آره اصلا انگار خلاقیت مرده. ا وای تازه این آدمایی بودن که عکاس پیدا کرده، آدم های همه ی دنیا چقدر عین هم لباس میپوشن؟! قطعا یکی امروز همون لباسیو پوشیده که منم پوشیدم. من یکی که مات این مجموعه شدم. شوکه کننده و غیرقابل باور و شگفت انگیز بود. دم این عکاس گرم.
ینی آدم ماتش میبره وقتی میبینیه عکاس توی هر صفحه، صفحه رو پر کرده از عکس آدمایی که عین هم، عین هم لباس پوشیده ن! آدم میبینه ا آره واقعا هممون عین هم شدیم. ا آره اصلا انگار خلاقیت مرده. ا وای تازه این آدمایی بودن که عکاس پیدا کرده، آدم های همه ی دنیا چقدر عین هم لباس میپوشن؟! قطعا یکی امروز همون لباسیو پوشیده که منم پوشیدم. من یکی که مات این مجموعه شدم. شوکه کننده و غیرقابل باور و شگفت انگیز بود. دم این عکاس گرم.
February 13, 2017
A collection of so-called “anti-sartorial” street photography, mostly from the Netherlands but also a lot of other places. Interesting to see trends shift throughout the years and a focus on average-looking people.
December 1, 2014
This is an exhaustive catalog of banality. So, uh, three stars.
April 15, 2017
I’m just going to be lazy here, and quote the text on the Phaidon website. It’s marketing, yet it’s all true:
“People of the Twenty-First Century is an enormous and completely fascinating collection of ‘anti-sartorial’ photographs of street life by the Dutch conceptual artist/street photographer. From Amsterdam to New York and Paris to Shanghai, these photographs, taken over a period of more than twenty years, provide a cumulative portrait of the people of the twenty-first century. (…) Democratic, apolitical and unique, the archive of thousands of images offers an engrossing and engaging cross-section of society.
(…) First he would select a busy pedestrian area – his favourite spots were often near shopping centres – where he would stay for 30 minutes up to a few hours. He then spent time observing passers-by before recognizing a common type, normally based on a garment, sometimes a behaviour: people in band T-shirts, fur caps or beige trench coats; young couples walking arm-in-arm; women in suit dresses; men with gelled hair or pushing shopping trolleys… He snapped them with a camera hung around his neck, attached to a trigger in his pocket. (…) Their simplicity of form and presentation belies their complex anthropological, social and artistic commentary.”
Click for more art book reviews on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten it.
“People of the Twenty-First Century is an enormous and completely fascinating collection of ‘anti-sartorial’ photographs of street life by the Dutch conceptual artist/street photographer. From Amsterdam to New York and Paris to Shanghai, these photographs, taken over a period of more than twenty years, provide a cumulative portrait of the people of the twenty-first century. (…) Democratic, apolitical and unique, the archive of thousands of images offers an engrossing and engaging cross-section of society.
(…) First he would select a busy pedestrian area – his favourite spots were often near shopping centres – where he would stay for 30 minutes up to a few hours. He then spent time observing passers-by before recognizing a common type, normally based on a garment, sometimes a behaviour: people in band T-shirts, fur caps or beige trench coats; young couples walking arm-in-arm; women in suit dresses; men with gelled hair or pushing shopping trolleys… He snapped them with a camera hung around his neck, attached to a trigger in his pocket. (…) Their simplicity of form and presentation belies their complex anthropological, social and artistic commentary.”
Click for more art book reviews on Weighing A Pig Doesn't Fatten it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews