The Family of man : the 30th anniversary edition of the classic book of photography

by Edward Steichen

Paper Book, 1955

Status

Available

Publication

New York, N.Y. : The Museum : Distributed by Simon & Schuster, 1983, c1955.

Description

Hailed as the most successful exhibition of photography ever assembled, The Family of Man opened at The Museum of Modern Art in January 1955. It was groundbreaking in its scope--503 images by 273 photographers originating in 69 countries--as well as in the numbers of people who experienced it on its tour through 88 venues in 37 countries. As the permanent embodiment of Edward Steichen's monumental exhibition, this publication reproduces all of the 503 images that Steichen described as "a mirror of the essential oneness of mankind throughout the world. Photographs made in all parts of the world, of the gamut of life from birth to death." To celebrate the 60th anniversary of this classic and inspiring work, MoMA is releasing this handsome hardcover edition.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member oook

This book has been with me since 1955, and it surely was the foundation for the photographic aesthetic I've been working on ever since I first was galvanized by the images.

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LibraryThing member bunnyjadwiga

I believe I was a teenager when I first obtained this book, the record of a 1950s photographic collection showing how people around the world are part of a Family of Man (Human), that they have so much in common in their diversity. The text and the quotes, as well as the poignant pictures, spoke to

me. The goal, in the face of possible world annihilation, to argue our commonality, touched me. In retrospect, perhaps it seems naive. There is more than a hint of colonialism in the selection. In retrospect, these outstanding photographs may suffer from the reproduction of so much black and white photography in a mass market edition as well. To some extent, these photographs are time capsule of a vanished time, the early 20th century.

But to me, these photographs still have the power to stir powerful emotions.

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LibraryThing member PghDragonMan

One of the greatest photojournalism exhibits ever mounted. While some of the Western clothing appears dated, the poses and interactions captured from all over the world are timeless. If you ever doubted we are one family, look at these photographs. The title is really what it is all about.

LibraryThing member viviennestrauss

After watching a wonderful documentary on Steichen (for the 4th time) I decided to look for this book, found it online at MOMA but lucked out even better - found a copy at my local library bookstore!

LibraryThing member mahallett

i wanted more info about the photos and the photographers. i know that wasn't the idea of the exhibit.

LibraryThing member EudesDeParis

What a shock to see my aunt photographed in here. That alone gets a five-star rating for the collection.

LibraryThing member mykl-s

Maybe this is the book that taught me the skills of thumbing through, skipping from one interesting part to another, and coming back later to reread and review.

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