Why read Looking at Photographs?

Book cover of Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art

Book description

`This is a picture book, and its first purpose is to provide the material for simple delectation', wrote curator John Szarkowski in this first survey of The Museum of Modern Art's photography collection. Since 1930, when the Museum accessioned its first photograph, it has assembled an extraordinary and wide-ranging collection…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Looking at Photographs as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Philip Gefter

Author

As the legendary curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art, John Szarkowski was instrumental in elevating photography’s stature to an equal among the fine arts. He is eloquent in his explanation about the meaning of photography and illuminating in his descriptions of each of the one hundred photographs published in this book from MoMA’s sterling collection of photographs. There is no better guide to an awakening of your own eye than Szarkowski.

From Philip's list on The best books for understanding photography as art.