Gerhard Steidl - Fascinating New Yorker article

[sevres_babylone]

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/05/22/gerhard-steidl-is-making-books-an-art-form

From the May 22 issue that is online now; not sure if you have to be a subscriber (I am) to view it.

 

[gns]

Thanks for that. I haven't subscribed to the New Yorker for a couple of years now. I will check it out.
There was also a movie about Steidl a while back. Interesting guy.

edit: trailer for the movie here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8McHbjaxpbA

 

[MISH]

he is giving a lecture at the Chicago Art Institute on May the 25th on Robert Frank
tickets are free but you have to register (i think seats are still available) try this link

https://sales.artic.edu/Events/Event/12510?date=5/25/2017

 

[benlees]

Always wondered how Steidl could afford to make such nice books that couldn't possibly sell. Now I know. Thanks!

 

[Dogman]

Fascinating indeed. I've long admired the quality of Steidl's books.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Steidl makes THE best photo books! Superb quality.

 

[icebear]

Fascinating article, well worth the time to read. Thanks for pointing it out.

QUOTE:
[The endpaper was made from cotton, and would cost thirty cents per book, as opposed to the seven cents it would cost if he used offset paper. “Using the cheaper one saves significant money for the shareholders,” he said. “But I am the only shareholder.”] UNQUOTE

 

[victoriapio]

Great topic for an article. Only in the New Yorker. Well done ....

 

[Michael Markey]

Enjoyed ... thank you for posting

 

[stephen.w]

Thanks for the link. There is an interview in the Lewis Baltz retrospective published last month (by Steidl, incidentally) in which he says of Steidl that he "is not just a printer or a publisher but a patron. He's interested in projects. And the scale of his ambition is almost like Tintoretto - he wants to cover every wall in the house. He's therefore patron to every possible kind of photography book, including quite a few he thought he really didn't want. And his ambition is not only to print these but to print them beautifully. Beyond that, he just hopes to make enough money to keep going."

 

[sepiareverb]

Arrived today, I will read tonight. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[xayraa33]

Thanks for the heads up, Jack

Interesting person this printer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ8lsYOsXtY

 

[tunalegs]

I found the reference to imitating photogravure interesting. Why not just print using photogravure, I wonder? I have a few older books done this way and the prints are rather better than most of what modern techniques can produce (at least for B&W).

 

[filmtwit]

on a similar note

https://www.magnumphotos.com/theory...n=Editorial_LesleyMartin&utm_content=Linkpost

 

[daveisbest]

I found the reference to imitating photogravure interesting. Why not just print using photogravure, I wonder? I have a few older books done this way and the prints are rather better than most of what modern techniques can produce (at least for B&W).

I agree that older books printed using photogravure look great, and I really wish some were still printed this way, but from what I gather the ability to print books in photogravure has more or less been lost unfortunately.

 

[sevres_babylone]

Thanks for the heads up, Jack

Interesting person this printer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ8lsYOsXtY

Thanks for the link to the Steidl lecture video; well-worth viewing either before or after reading the New Yorker article.

 

[lawrence]

I agree that older books printed using photogravure look great, and I really wish some were still printed this way, but from what I gather the ability to print books in photogravure has more or less been lost unfortunately.

I think it may be due to environmental issues with the process that etches the copper plate that is used for reproduction.

 

[tunalegs]

I think it may be due to environmental issues with the process that etches the copper plate that is used for reproduction.

There are still lots of printmakers who make photogravure prints, just not in books. I have to assume the issue is either cost related, or perhaps some sort of incompatibility with offset printing.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

There's also a great documentary film called "How to Make a Book with Steidl". It can be found on Amazon Prime, and there are short clips from the film on YouTube.