Czech Photographic Avant-Garde, 1918--1948 [Hardcover]

Beginning in the 1920s, art photographers of Eastern Europe were influenced by such avant-garde movements as Constructivism, Dadaism, and Surrealism. These artists were especially interested in experimentation, using new forms of photo-based image making, including photograms, collage, photomontage, and abstraction. In turn, they used this new visual language to communicate political ideology to the masses, helping to make photography a powerful means of expression. The avant-garde photography movement has been well documented with one exception: Czechoslovakia. Because Czechoslovakia was culturally isolated until the fall of its Communist regime in 1989, the work of many Czech avant-garde photographers has been omitted from most history texts. Edited by Birgus (Academy of Performing Arts, Prague), this volume offers the first comprehensive survey of early Czech avant-garde photography, helping to acknowledge the underrecognized artists who contributed to the avant-garde tradition. Beautifully illustrated with more than 300 duotone and color images, the book also includes art and artist chronologies, biographies, a bibliography, and an index. Given the award for Best Photographic Publication of 1999-2000 at the International Festival Primavera Fotogr fica in Barcelona, this book is recommended for all art and photography collections.
Shauna Frischkorn, Millersville Univ., PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"...a stunning book whose images abduct the reader into a world most of us only see in dreams." Evan Rail The Prague Post

"A wonderful collection of images that will be unfamiliar to most readers. Highly recommended." Christian Perring, Ph.D. Metapsychology

"An unbelievable collection from some of the best relatively unknown photographers of the early avant-garde." Taylor Holland The Austin Chronicle

"Now translated into English, this important book...expands our knowledge of the history of photography of this critical period." B&W Magazine

"..one cannot but be startled by the depth and importance of the Czech tradition." Mark Pohlad History of Photography

"The scholarship of the six contributors is formidable and will not soon be superseded." Alan G. Artner Chicago Tribune

"...this book reveals the body of work that paved the way for later Czech photographers." Mark Wojahn Rain Taxi

"This remarkable collection will repay hours of study and belongs in the library of anyone who seriously studies modern photography." Choice Magazine

"This remarkable collection...belongs in the library of anyone who seriously studies modern photography." J.M. Curtis Choice Magazine

Not until the fall of the communist regime in 1989 and the end of Czechoslovakia's cultural isolation did the world begin to appreciate the Czech avant-garde photographers of the first half of the twentieth century. This first survey of Czech avant-garde photography introduces the important work of František Drtikol, Jaromir Funke, Jaroslav Rössler, Jindøich Štyrský, Josef Sudek, and numerous others whose work made Czech photography synonymous with visions of modernity. The essays introduce the period and explore the background and connections among the photographers. Biographical profiles are also included. But the book's main attraction is its outstanding collection of duotone and color images, many published here for the first time. The Czech edition of this book received the "Best Photographic Publication of 1999-2000" award from Primavera Fotográfica in Barcelona and from Month of Photography in Bratislava and was one of six finalists for the 2001 Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award.Not for sale in the Czech Republic

Vladimir Birgus is Professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and Head of the Institute of Creative Photography at Silesian University in Opava. He is the author of numerous books on Czech and European photography, including Photographer Franti'ek Drtikol, Czech Photography of the 1990s, and The Nude in Czech Photography.