Walker Evans: Starting from Scratch

Walker Evans (1903–75) was an American photographer known for his work for the Farm Security Administration, addressing the Great Depression. Art historian Svetlana Alpers explores how Evans made his distinctive photographs, revealing rich parallels between his creative approach and those of literary and cultural figures. Evans's practice relied on his camera choices, willingness to edit multiple versions of a shot, keen eye, and distant straight-on view of visual objects. Alpers places his writings in conversation with his photographs, underscoring how Evans's travels abroad and expansive literary and artistic tastes informed his quintessentially American photographic style.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Walker Evans (1903-75) was a renowned American artist who captured the essence of people and places in the United States through his unforgettable photographs. While he is best known for his work with the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression, his lens revealed a deeper understanding of the diverse human experience and the lasting impact of the Civil War. In her comprehensive study, art historian Svetlana Alpers delves into the artistic techniques employed by Evans to create his distinctive photographs.

Through a lavish selection of Evans's work, Alpers uncovers rich parallels between his creative approach and those of numerous literary and cultural figures. She places Evans within the broader context of a truly international circle, demonstrating how his travels abroad, along with his expansive literary and artistic tastes, informed his quintessentially American photographic style.

One of the key aspects of Evans's practice was his camera choices and his willingness to edit multiple versions of a shot. He relied on his keen eye and his distant, straight-on view of visual objects to capture the essence of his subjects. Alpers highlights the importance of Evans's dual love of text and images, placing his writings in conversation with his photographs. By doing so, she underscores how Evans's photographs were not just visual representations but also vehicles for his intellectual and emotional expression.

Alpers also explores how Evans's techniques influenced the work of other important artists. She brings his techniques into dialogue with the work of writers such as Flaubert and Baudelaire, as well as visual artists like Elizabeth Bishop and William Faulkner. This intertextual approach allows us to see how Evans's photographs resonated with a broader artistic community and contributed to the development of modern photography.

In conclusion, Walker Evans's photographs are a testament to his exceptional talent and his profound understanding of the human condition. Through his magisterial study, Svetlana Alpers invites us to re-examine the act of seeing the world and to appreciate the enduring legacy of Evans's artistic vision. His photographs continue to inspire and challenge us to see the world through fresh eyes, and to recognize the diversity and complexity of the human experience.

Weight: 1156g
Dimension: 167 x 243 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691195872