Aaron Siskind 55 Series

Phaidon 55s

by James Rhem

AARON SISKIND (1903-1991) was an acclaimed photographer and teacher who sought to develop a new pictorial language for photography. Best known for his remarkable abstract images, Siskind sought inspiration for his photographs in music, poetry, and painting. Siskind's aptitude for teaching led him to become one of the most important photography teachers in America in the twentieth century, influencing generations of photographers at the Chicago Institute of Design and the Rhode Island School of Design over a forty-year period.

Genres: Photography

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Audrey Babkirk Wellons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know little about photography, and abstract art isn't usually something I'm drawn to. But the handful of Siskind's b&w works showcased here are so evocative, so in love with texture and shape, that I couldn't help but be drawn in. Plus, the accompanying text is almost poetry, with the author describing one object by saying, "You seem to have known it for as long as you’ve known the palm of your hand."

[Michael Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small but intriguing overview of a photographer I did not know.