André Kertész: The Polaroids

Andrei Kertesz is one of the 20th century's Masters of Photography and this book contains a delightful collection of work done near the end of his long life. His use of the Polaroid demonstrates the power of his artistic vision. What,at the time was considered a snapshot camera, is utilized by Andre to create a master set of fine art prints, all from the confines of his apartment. this book should be in the collection of anyone that appreciates Photography as an art form.

Fantastic creativity! Well worth the price.

This book is a collection of images created from Polaroids, and the small scale brings that intimate experience to your finger tips.

Very nicely done, quality printed, book. The story behind the photos is interesting, photos are great.

Love this book! Very inspiring!

Very nice book,almost new

The binding of the book is too tight for me to appreciate Kertesz polaroids

André Kertész (1894 - 1985) captured his first photograph while working as a clerk at the Budapest stock exchange in 1912. A member of the Austro-Hungarian Army during WWI, Kertész photographed his experiences of the war until he was wounded in battle in 1915. Unfortunately, many of the images he captured during this time were lost during the Hungarian Revolution of 1918.Thereafter, this preturnatually gifted poetic soul traveled to Paris (in 1925), where he worked as a freelance photographer and published three books of his images; and on to New York (in 1936), where one of the 20th Century's most gifted photographers was effectively cold-shouldered by the photographic "establishment" and relegated to taking pictures of architecture and home interiors for House and Garden. In what must be one of the most egregious oversights in photographic history, not a single one of his images was selected for Steichen's famous The Family of Man exhibition in 1956! It was only after Kertész retired from commercial work (in 1962) that he was again able to devote his considerable powers of observation and feeling to the same "simple" everyday subjects of his "amateurish" youth. Kertész left behind a legacy of beautiful, meloncholic tonal poems for all future generations of aspiring photographers to marvel at; and to marvel at the breadth and depth of his feeling for the human condition.As the short publisher's note above describes, Kertesz was despondent after his wife's death. But his beautiful soul awakened anew after Graham Nash (member of the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) gave him a Polaroid SX-70 camera. Kertesz trained his poetic eye mostly on things in his apartment (and a special little abstract acrylic scuplture whose form reminded him of his departed wife); but, oh the wonders his delicate imagery reveals about himself and his world. And through his wondrous art, we see a little more of the world we think we know, but experience mostly at a distance, without the magic that only a poet with a camera can reveal.Where a photographer like Minor White (whom I hold in great esteem) deliberately used essentially unrecognizable abstract forms to communicate inner states, Kertész instead used immediately recognizable shapes and symbols to convey the nature - and feeling - of his connection (or, more often than not, dis-connection) to the world around him. The fragile interconnected bond between artist and humanity was the real "subject" of Kertész's poetic gaze; and we can all feel it, as we look upon the shapes and tones of his otherwise "ordinary" subjects. His work is less about the traditional subjects of photographs (people, places and things), and more - much more - about his feelings about his relationships with the traditional subjects that came within view of this gentle artistic soul.This is a beautiful little book that anyone who is interested in fine-art photopgraphy (in the truest sense of the word) would undoubtedly treasure."The moment always dictates in my work. What I feel, I do. This is the most important thing for me. Everybody can look, but they don't necessarily see. I never calculate or consider; I see a situation and I know that it's right, even if I have to go back to "get the proper lighting." - André Kertész.

Ok not the cheapest book, but if you love Polaroid, you would not do better than stopping here to understand how to do it right

Having come across this photographer at an evening class (developing your personal photographic style)I was intrigued to see more - and this small book gave me a great feel for Kertesz's late work. Inspirational because so many of the shots are using simple household items and light and composition - and the end result is pictures that draw you in and make you want to look at them again. Haunting and moody.

A man in his apartment consoling himself after the death of his wife by taking pictures with a newly developed technology and my oh my... what pictures they are. Buy or get your hands on it if you can.

C'est avec un grand plaisir que je découvre ce petit livre présentant le travail au polaroid d'André Kertész. Ce travail en couleur qu'il effectue après le décès de sa femme lui permet de reprendre gout à la photo et de revivre. Cela se ressent dans des photographies douces et poétiques. Chacune d'entre elle est un petit chef d'oeuvre d'une grande délicatesse. On y retrouve les thèmes chers à ce photographe que sont l'étude de la lumière et les déformations.Son regard original ne finit pas de nous transporter.Le livre n'est pas très grand mais de la dimension qu'il faut pour présenter des polaroid en taille réel. A feuilleter sans modération!

Un libro che è una poesia! Le piccole cose e ombre degli oggetti creano una atmosfera dolente e fantastica nello stesso tempo.