That Most Poetic of Photographers

You'd think that after six years of doing this almost every single day of the year, I'd eventually start to get wise. But no. I still write posts, like Sunday's, that cost me a lot more money than I earn from them. Did you know, for instance, that you can buy the entire set of Antal Dorati's Haydn Symphonies from iTunes for fifty bucks?!? That amounts to 9.36 cents per movement. That's $1.51 for the equivalent of a single CD in the set's hardcopy form (which is cheap now too, despite costing four times what the download does). When I really, really wanted that set, back when it came out on CD, the price was the virtual equivalent of a bazillion bucks: I might as well have considered buying a Lamborghini. I am going to resist the download as hard and as long as I can, but it's a doomed project. There goes another fifty bucks I really shouldn't part with. I should just give in now, and skip the angst and fretting.

There's another desirable purchase that's been nagging at my brain, too. Just a couple of years ago now, when Sarah Greenough's book went out of print, I realized to my amazement that there was no good overview of the work of Andre Kertesz that you could buy new, at no more than retail price. There were a couple of oddities and scraps and chapbooks and such, but virtually none of the classic books were in print.

That amazed me. Kertesz is essential. When I was coming into photography I would have put him in the the top ten of photographers that any photographer should get familiar with. Not only is he a visual genius, but his personality leaps out of his life story, and his life story limns a vivid journey (highs and lows) that can't help but interest and inspire (and perhaps caution) anyone who has embarked on a similar one. I guess now I would demote him to merely the top thirty, since photography has changed so much lately. But he's still essential.

What's nagging at me is the magnificent new book Kertesz from Editions Hazan in Paris (that's the amazon.com link; here's the U.K. link, and here's the link to The Book Depository). It's nominally a catalog from a major retrospective at the Jeu de Paume, but what I've read of the text by Michel Frizot and Annie-Laure Wanaverbecq is incisive, and I love the illustrations in this book—although Kertesz holds few surprises for me, the authors have done a masterful job of providing a cornucopia of illustrations in a flexible and inventive way, with the pictures reproduced in many different sizes and in subtly different colors to reflect the uniqueness of specific prints.

My only problem is that I have at least five excellent books on Kertesz already (my favorite being probably Andre Kertesz of Paris and New York by Sandra S. Phillips, David Travis, and Weston Naef—Naef retired as the top curator at the Getty in early 2009). I hardly need yet one more. But I'm just circling this exciting volume—it's calling to me, or more accurately nagging at me, like a duck pecking steadily at my consciousness. I just don't think I'll be able to resist, in the end, no matter how I try.

Kertesz is not unlike Haydn, come to think of it, in some ways—effortlessly prolific, tuneful you might even call him if you're feeling flexible about your metaphors; there is something both cheerful and workmanlike about each. I forget who said it, but in one of the books I have the author says something to the effect that Kertesz is like a master composer who confines himself to the middle of the keyboard, seldom reaching for the highest highs or lowest lows. There's something to that. There's an easy, graceful poetry to his genius, a love of life and the world, even in his life's bitterest periods. His pictures convey both a perceptive intelligence and a sense of delight and appreciation for humanity, an abiding geniality.

I don't own this book yet, but I suspect my efforts to remain sensible are doomed. If you don't have one great book about Kertesz, or, even better, if you've yet to become acquainted, well, lucky you. The easy-to-get Kertesz book of our era, circa 2011, is a gold mine, deep and rich.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Harold GLIT: "Hello Mike—I got this book last year when it came out and despite having two books of Kertesz, this one is not only my favorite Kertesz book but it is also one of my favorite five photobooks in my photo library (something tells me you would approve of the other four). So not only will you be unable to resist but you should not, because if you don't get it you will regret it when it goes out of print (and it will go out of print). Go for it."

Mike replies: You are not helping here, Harold. :-)

Featured Comment by Doug Stocks: "Good evening Mike, I just heard that Patricia Albers, the art historian/biographer and author of the excellent Shadows, Fire, Snow: The Life of Tina Modotti and most recently Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter is currently at work on an extensive biography of Kertesz. Something to look forward to."

Featured Comment by Glenn Brown: "As a young photographer I met Andre in Toronto in the late '70s or early '80s and asked advice on developing a career. I live and work by his advice: 'Never forget they are just snaps, just make them good snaps.' I will always remember his humility and warmth."

Featured Comment by expiring_frog: "I suspected this was a post about Kertesz just from the title (and perhaps a glimpse of the top half of the cover photo, which I hadn't seen before). We have one of his books (I think 60 Years of Photography) back home in India, so resisting the temptation for now :). One of my absolute favourite photographers."

Featured Comment by Ben Rosengart: "Kertész is my North Star."

Comments

[Herman]

"André Kertész His Life and Work", by Pierre Borham is one of the few photo books I kept after moving to a smaller house, and disposing of many other good books.

[Harrison Cronbi]

I couldn't quite purchase this one straight away, Mike - £46 is just beyond my instinctive internal one-click buy reflex at the moment. It embarrasses me, however, that I only own one very slim Kertész book. And it excites me that I hope to see the current exhibition at the Royal Academy in the next couple of weeks, "Eyewitness: Hungarian Photography in the 20th Century" (Brassaï, Capa, Kertész, Munkácsi, Moholy-Nagy). So this purchase temptation poltergeist might linger before possessing my left mouse finger.

[Art Elkon]

There's one less copy available at Amazon, and it's all your fault. My rationalization: an early birthday present to myself. Besides, it's a lot cheaper than the Miata... Thanks, Mike... :-)

[Bill Mitchell]

I have several Kertesz books, but none with a biography, which is somthing I would really like to read.
(My favorite is J'Aime, Paris which, now that you mention it, I think that I'll take down from the shelf tonight and re-enjoy it.)

[Peter]

Mike, just remember that most iTunes download tracks are not high quality, if you need help with resisting! But you can buy from one of the online music download stores that sell in lossless format. Examples are hdtracks.com, livedownloads.com, beatport.com, and classicalshop.net. All of which are not available outside of the US :(

[Larry Lourcey]

wow-that image on the cover is incredible. Gotta check this one out. Thanks for sharing.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Just get this book, Mike. It's even better than you think it is. Kertesz is in my top 5 list, one of the very few photographers who strikes a very personal chord with me. I already have "several" books of his work. But this is the cherry on the sundae.

Sincerely, Your Enabler,

[Kenneth Tanaka]

p.s. "Andre Kertesz of Paris and New York" is a fine work, too. Sadly, I don't own a copy but have read the copy in the Ryerson Library at the Museum. But, shhh, keep it to yourself. David Travis, the former curator and chair of photography at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a friend.

[Jeff]

I mentioned in the Captions discussion that Kertesz is one of my all time favorites. He is easily in my top 10 along with Strand, Walker Evans and others. I have at least 15 books on Kertesz, and have been fortunate enough to have owned his vintage prints.

He also gets little recognition for tutoring and teaching Brassai (Gyula Halasz) night photography and other techniques. Brassai did fairly well with Paris de Nuit, which likely wouldn't have happened without the help from Kertesz.

Besides the books, this video is maybe your best use of $4 today...http://www.amazon.com/Andre-Kertesz--Master-Photography-VHS/dp/B0013E05PM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311730307&sr=8-2

[Paris]

Mike,

If you're expecting an intervention against your book habit from this crowd, you're barking up the wrong tree.
I bought Kertesz about a month ago, and I'm not sorry.

Plus, after reading your post, I bought a $25 used copy of Andre Kertesz of Paris and New York. When my wife asks, I'm blaming that on you.

On a related topic, how about a list of those 30 favorites? We'll all tell you you're wrong because you left off so-and-so, but you can take it.

[Dave]

You mention a list of 30 essential photographers -- please post it! I know you would catch endless grief for posting such a list, but I would love to see it. I'd also like to read the comments that post would generate. A post like that would surely end up in my bookmarks.

[David]

JUST amazing how much Kertesz'z work has influenced modern photography..haven't visited him in a while and it's incredible to see what a heavy he was.

[Peter Cameron]

"On Reading" remains a favourite of mine.

[Arne Cröll]

The Haydn set was originally released in the seventies on vinyl and I was definitely interested then. While the original release was quite expensive too, there was a rerelease later here in Germany for a book and record company, "2001" (named after the movie/book), and at that time I could afford it even as a student. Those were still vinyl, but since I got a new record player in 2008 I am all set. While there are other approaches to Haydn (the historic instruments and practice movement came a little later) it is still worthwhile to have and was a monumental task undertaken by Dorati.

[Guy Batey]

Jump on a plane to Berlin Mike for the Kertész show: http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/11_gropiusbau/mgb_aktuelle_ausstellungen/kertesz/mgb11_kertesz_start.php
I'll buy you a beer, and you can get the catalogue for 25€! Win win situation!

[Sean]

A saw the Eyewitness exhibition at the royal academy in London a few weeks ago which highlighted Hungarian photography in the 20th century. I saw vintage prints from Brassaï, Capa, Kertész, Moholy-Nagy, Munkácsi & Kertész

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hungarian-photography/

The book from the show is very good imo http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyewitness-Hungarian-Photography-Twentieth-Moholy-Nagy/dp/190571176X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311754584&sr=1-1

But I was thinking during the show that I didn't have a book of Kertész. My higher power is the god of photography and surely she's trying to send me a message here.

[expiring_frog]

Follow up: I couldn't resist. I bought it (there goes more of my grad student salary).

[Max Pasion]

I bought that book as soon as it went on sale. Along with HCB, Kertesz was one of my most important references. "Meudon, 1928" is one of his photographs that has been etched in my mind since I first laid eyes on it more than 10 years ago.

[Nicholas]

In 2008 Kertesz' book »On Reading« was reprinted, at last. A beautifull little hardback, available at Amazon & Bookdepository.
Highly recommended!

http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=12087

[Freddy Schiller]

if you happen to be in Berlin you don't want to miss the Kertesz exhibition which also sells the catalogue for 25 EUR:

http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/11_gropiusbau/mgb_aktuelle_ausstellungen/kertesz/mgb11_katalog_kertesz/mgb11_kertesz_katalog.php

The exibition runs until 11 September 2011.

[Richard Rodgers]

Damn you Johnson- Just ordered the book!
fotorr

[David Salmanowitz]

Great photographer, great book. Well worth having and you should really buy it. Feels liberating telling you this as you and my pal Maarten have cost me a fortune in recommending photography books. :-)
As far as the iTunes downloads ultimately it is being able to listen to the music that counts, we have all heard music on a cheap car radio that sounded magical at the time. Yet as Peter pointed out an iTunes download is not of the highest quality, and not to start a flame war but nothing like a record for real listening pleasure. :-)

[Jeff Glass]

Mike:

do you have a running list of recommended books? It would be nice to have such a thing that we could refer to, w/ link on the front page, when money trickles in and we just can't quite find the post on that great title.

[Andrew Lamb]

"And it excites me that I hope to see the current exhibition at the Royal Academy in the next couple of weeks, "Eyewitness: Hungarian Photography in the 20th Century" (Brassaï, Capa, Kertész, Munkácsi, Moholy-Nagy)."

Seconded!

[Bob Rosinsky]

Thanks for the recommendation, Mike. I just parted with hard-earned cash to acquire this book. I've always wanted a good one on Kertesz. Most of my photography book library has been built from titles you mention on the blog.

[Richard Sintchak]

Gosh darn it Mike! I already have at least 4-5 books on this guy. Hmmmmm. Nonetheless I just hit the 1-Click at Amazon and it's on the way.....I'm excited. Think I'll attach my 90 Elmar to my MP, load s roll of Plus-X and go shoot some...

[Jeff]

I followed your link and placed my order. Many thanks.

[Heinz Danzberger]

Thank you for this great blog work and the A. Kertesz highlight - high noon for me to add this to my miniature library.

Can't wait to receive a copy from the book depository.

Andre Kertesz is perhaps the most undervalued, gentle creator of the last century in photography, of photography as an art standing on it's own tripod.

Otherwise, I am completely with the recent WTDuck strip!
And go ahead and order.....some things are essential in life c-; on the level of food and shelter being secondary considerations indeed.

Heinz

[david cummings]

I spent three hours enjoying the Kertesz retrospective at the Jeu de Paume in January, and was surprised at how much of the Paris work he did in Tuileries. When I left the exhibit I stayed in the garden and spent a wonderful hour shooting people in this same setting. The January sun gave great long shadows and I actually got some of my best recent street shots with his inspiration fresh in my mind. The book is a must-have.

[Fausto Chermont]

Some years ago, a French friend, said that Bresson once put that - we all owe something to kertész.
I don't know if he really said that, but it always sound true to me.

[Yohan]

Gee, thanks for forcing my hand, Mike. I've had it on my wishlist for gift-giving (receiving) occasions for a while, but fearing the TOP Effect I went ahead and bought it before it goes OOP for good. It's already gone from being immediately available to shipping in "7 to 10 days".