Warning, new HCB Book, bad buy !

[Bertram2]

For the German speaking part to the forum a warning:

Schirmer & Mosel has brought a new HCB book recently, "Der Klang der Seele, Portraits" Bought it and sent it back next day .

The introduction of Jean Luc Nancy , which includes unfortunately the interpretation of some of the photos, is that sort of art-fart babble which lets you assume some fuses are blown in your perception system, because you see the words but even after rereading them a third time you have no clue what he is talking about. He has created his own universe of terms and his own language too, a kinda linguistical roller coaster, on which he drives along in the delusion of his own greatness. And the translater does not seem to contribute anything positive either.

Worse, the selection of photos is almost identical with the "Tete a Tete" book of the same publishers !!

Worst, some photos are the weaker version of obviously existing series, the first book contains the better choice in all cases. Added are some technically really bad ones, I have doubts HCB would had gave his permission ever to publish them.

Incredible that this is obviously all done in cooperation with the Fondation HCB in Paris. !?

So don't buy that crap, buy Tete a Tete if you want to deal with HCBs portraits.

Regards,
Bertram

 

[RayPA]

...

The introduction of Jean Luc Nancy , which includes unfortunately the interpretation of some of the photos, is that sort of art-fart babble which lets you assume some fuses are blown in your perception system, because you see the words but even after rereading them a third time you have no clue what he is talking about. He has created his own universe of terms and his own language too, a kinda linguistical roller coaster, on which he drives along in the delusion of his own greatness. ...

Regards,
Bertram

😱 Excelllent, Bertram! You skewer elegantly! 🙂


.

 

[FrankS]

"The introduction of Jean Luc Nancy , which includes unfortunately the interpretation of some of the photos, is that sort of art-fart babble which lets you assume some fuses are blown in your perception system, because you see the words but even after rereading them a third time you have no clue what he is talking about. He has created his own universe of terms and his own language too, a kinda linguistical roller coaster, on which he drives along in the delusion of his own greatness."

Well put, Bertram! I find most of the art reviews I read to be of this nature. It could be my own limitations though, as I am plain-spoken.

 

[Ken F.]

Hi Bertram,

I agree. I made the mistake of purchasing a copy while travelling, I wanted something to read on the return flight home, unfortunately I cannot return mine...

Regards,
kf

 

[Bertram2]

😱 Excelllent, Bertram! You skewer elegantly! 🙂
.

Blush ! 😱 Too flattering !!
Thanks anyway, in my mother languauge I could have added still a bit more acid ! 😀

Regards,
bertram

 

[Bertram2]

Hi Bertram,

I agree. I made the mistake of purchasing a copy while travelling, I wanted something to read on the return flight home, unfortunately I cannot return mine...

Regards,
kf

What a pity !! In this case I was too late ! Since I had several disappointing experiences with photo books I buy them either in a shop only or at Amazon, where it costs me some Euros only to give them back. What always had been turned out as top quality is the whole Taschen stuff ! Simply great.

bertram

 

[Bertram2]

"
Well put, Bertram! I find most of the art reviews I read to be of this nature. It could be my own limitations though, as I am plain-spoken.

Frank,
Plain-spoken or not, I do think your perception works quite well.
Introductions of photo books or of photo exhibition catalogues seem to attract a certain kind of art bletherers, who use this as a highly welcome opportunity to let others get known to their own intellectual universe. Best suited for that is a language which wraps some trivial thoughts and a poor knowledge in a kinda linguistic puzzles.
For those who have a clue of the whole thing this makes it difficult to criticise that babble, because it is too interpretable. The others (and that's the majority) will shiver in deep respect, because they anyway keep everything as art they cannot understand. 😉

A man with true knowledge and artistic understanding can always afford to speak with clear words..

bertram

 

[FrankS]

I couldn't agree more!

 

[RayPA]

Frank,
Plain-spoken or not, I do think your perception works quite well.
Introductions of photo books or of photo exhibition catalogues seem to attract a certain kind of art bletherers, who use this as a highly welcome opportunity to let others get known to their own intellectual universe. Best suited for that is a language which wraps some trivial thoughts and a poor knowledge in a kinda linguistic puzzles.
For those who have a clue of the whole thing this makes it difficult to criticise that babble, because it is too interpretable. The others (and that's the majority) will shiver in deep respect, because they anyway keep everything as art they cannot understand. 😉
...

bertram

In fairness to the author(s), critics, etc., that IS the universe they exist in. It is almost a code, or language that only they understand. They are really writing for others, like themselves. Knowing that doesn't make it any less intolerable, or painful, however.

🙂

 

[peter_n]

I bought this book but I have not seen Tete a Tete nor did I read the introduction by Jean-Luc Nancy. I just looked at the photographs. I liked the book, there are many famous people pictured, and quite a number of unknowns too. This is difficult to articulate but HCB manages to capture something unique in many of them (not all) - expression, context or whatever - that makes you want to go back and look at the pictures again.

I'm an admirer of his more well known work and unfamiliar with his portraits, but what I get from this book is a sense that he could probably have done anything he wanted with a camera and do it extremely well. I got the same feeling after a recent visit to a big Ansel Adams exhibit here in Boston that included some of his 35mm work. Wow - he could snap anything and it would be awesome...

One thing that is notable about this HCB book (and helps with your appreciation of it) is the stunning quality of the printing which was done in Germany. The English title of the book is An Inner Silence, published in the US by Thames & Hudson.

 

[Beniliam]

One of my professors of history of the photography said in one of his classes that when HCB died and came to the light the millons of negatives that Henri did while still alive, would make us value to him like photographer still better. I havent got doubts that there are hundreds of very very nice photos in the Fondation still unpublished. I hope, that someday, those unpublished photos, are part of their great work, and are part of us.

 

[Dougg]

It seems to me a large part of the problem in writing about photographic aesthetics is that photography IS itself a language of communication, so the writing must be some kind of descriptive translation of elements it's not equipped to convey. As is the same with, say, technical writing, words and phrases are devised to bridge this gap, and are clearly understood only by those familiar with such writings. Of course it can also be pretentious and phony...

 

[Jamie123]

bertram,

If you want to buy a good photo book try the (rather) new "Stanley Kubrick - Drama&Schatten: Fotografien 1945-1950" from Phaidon Verlag.

 

[Bertram2]

I bought this book but I have not seen Tete a Tete nor did I read the introduction by Jean-Luc Nancy.

Well, then the most of my complaints do not concern you . 🙂

A pity tho that some portraits in this book a less good than those of the same person in Tete a Tete. For example Jean Genet (in the cafe) Andre Breton (with the masks) And some others are technically so poor, that they obviously weren't considered as acceptable for Tete a Tete.

I don't want that anybody here misunderstands my complaints: The book is not worthless per se , that wasn't my point. Yet IMHO it's worthless for all who own Tete a Tete.

bertram

 

[Bertram2]

Yet IMHO it's worthless for all who own Tete a Tete.

bertram

Forgot to add that " Tete a Tete" is still available as used book , for hardly more than the half price compared to the new one.

bertram