Painting, Photography, Film

by László Moholy-Nagy

This translation of the original 1925-27 Moholy-Nagy book presents his innovative Rayographs made without a camera, the creative X-rays, super-wide-angle fisheye pictures, double prints, collages, montages, and the Bauhaus artist's thoughts on the interrelationship of type, audio, and visual perception.

Genres: Photography, Art, Film, Design, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1925

Reviews

[dv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molto più tecnico e meno teorico di quanto immaginassi. Interessante la parte finale di illustrazioni.

[Kushev · Rating 3 out of 5]

“People believe that they should demand hand execution as an inseparable part of the genesis of a work of art. In fact, in comparison with the inventive mental process with the inventive mental process of the genesis, the question of execution is important only in so far as it must be mastered to the limits. The manner, however - whether personal or by assignment of labour, whether manual or mechanical - is irrelevant.” (26, Moholy-Nagy)

The book is a collection of reflections with a very modernist outlook by Moholy-Nagy on art (as of 1920s). It reminds me of a sci-fi book on art, as the Bauhaus teacher was positive of the use of machinery in art, prompting even some inventions, which may not be exactly reality today (like the poly-cinema), but remind of contemporary art installations. Though about a century has passed, I feel Moholy-Nagy still inspires a debate on what art exactly is - him defending that it’s the idea, not the execution that matters.

[Eavan]

:O