Chronologies and big book books

[Richard Boutwell]

I looked through Richard Misrach's new book from the Fraenkel Gallery the other day. It is massive, with exquisite reproductions, and is relatively inexpensive for it's size. The only drawback I see is the complete lack of an essay. I had to search even for the colophon.

It seems like photobooks, like the actual prints, are getting bigger and bigger. Meyrowitz's new book is huge. So is Polidori's. And while it is thin, Jem Southams Painter's Pool is too big for my shelf. It is like the publishers think there is endless amount of shelf space.

But, at the same time I'd like to think that Helmut saw it coming and said "HA! take THIS!" when he came out with Sumo.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

At least Sumo came with its own stand. Although, it really needs its own ROOM to display it properly - that book and stand would overwhelm my library, which has virtually nothing in it other than shelves, a chair and a reading table.