The Photograph: A Visual and Cultural History

by Graham Clarke

How do we read a photograph? In this rich and fascinating work, Graham Clarke gives a clear and incisive account of the photograph's historical development, and elucidates the insights of the most engaging thinkers on the subject, such as Roland Barthes and Susan Sontag. From the first misty "heliograph" taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1826 to the classic compositions of Cartier-Bresson and Alfred Steiglitz and the striking postmodern strategies of Robert Mapplethorpe, Clarke provides a groundbreaking examination of photography's main subject areas--landscape, the city, portraiture, the body, and reportage--as well as a detailed analysis of exemplary images in terms of their cultural and ideological contexts. With over 130 illustrations, The Photograph offers a series of discussions of major themes and genres providing an up-to-date introduction to the history of photography and creating a record of the most dazzling, penetrating, and pervasive images of our time.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History, Art and Photography

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 1997

About the author

Graham Clarke was born in 1941 and is an artist, author, illustrator and humorist.

Reviews

[Zoë Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for the first year of my photography degree, lots of wonderful information but a lot to read at once. The language is extremely descriptive and perhaps "over-the-top" however still worth the read for reference, some wonderful work in there.

[Domiziana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inizialmente acquistato per preparare un esame universitario, ho finito per leggerlo per puro piacere personale.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just like looking at the pictures, haven't read the text.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive history of photography - covering aspects of technical progress, social implications and artistic values. Interesting reading!

[Roy McDine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well documented and illustrated, would liked to have seen more images of each photographers, but liked the format.

[Julien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well documented book about the history of photography. The technical evolution of photography and its social impact.

[dv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ottima storia soprattutto per come sottolinea l'aggettivo "culturale" del titolo. Al di là dell'efficace progressione per temi e della scelta (buona) di autori e foto, quel che più funziona sono le considerazioni di carattere sociologico. Il che mette questo testo una spanna sopra molto altre storie della fotografia.