The Family of Man

by Carl Sandburg, Edward Steichen (Editor)

A groundbreaking humanist classic from the eponymous 1955 show at MoMA, hailed as one of the most successful photography exhibitions of all time Hailed as the most successful exhibition of photography ever assembled, The Family of Man opened at The Museum of Modern Art, New York in January 1955. This book, the permanent embodiment of Edward Steichen's monumental exhibition, reproduces all of the 503 images that Steichen described as "a mirror of the essential oneness of mankind throughout the world. Photographs made in all parts of the world, of the gamut of life from birth to death." A classic and inspiring work, The Family of Man has been in print for more than 40 years. The New York Times once wrote that it "symbolizes the universality of human emotions." First produced by a magazine publisher and sold by the hundreds of thousands on newsstands and in airport shops, The Family of Man has been in more recent years published by the Museum. It has been continuously in print since 1955; the present thirtieth-anniversary edition was prepared from original photographs with all new duotone plates in 1986.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Art and Photography, Anthropology, Classics, Art History

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Free verse poems of known American writer Carl August Sandburg celebrated American people, geography, and industry; alongside his six-volume biography Abraham Lincoln (1926-1939), his collections of poetry include Smoke and Steel (1920).

This best editor won Pulitzer Prizes. Henry Louis Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_San...

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-intentioned and groundbreaking photo exhibition, memorialized in book form. I appreciate the theme of common humanity in The Family of Man, and a lot of work must have gone into choosing its photos. However, Edward Steichen's emphasis on the United States/the western world felt off-putting and unrepresentative of all of humanity. He also could have picked pictures more illustrative of the full gamut of human emotions. So many of these shots only highlight happy times, but humans undergo much suffering and sadness too - these dark times often showcase our resilience the most.

In sum, a good collection to examine with a critical eye if photography intrigues you. Roland Barthes's 1957 critique of The Family of Man spoke to me - I wonder how this exhibit would look like today.

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was in the family library for as long as I can remember, being an object of interest to me since before learning to read. Continuously in print since 1955, I have given away innumerable copies of it over the years.

Carl Sandburg, Steichen's brother-in-law and author of its prologue, was a friend of the family, his wife maintaining a goat farm down the beach from my Dad's mother's place on Lake Michigan. Dad's father, Einar Senior, was a colleague of Sandburg's both in the Socialist Party of America and in the Chicago newspaper business during the thirties. When the depression hit, both of them lost their jobs and Carl moved up to his wife's farm where he wrote his biography of Lincoln. While living there he employed the services of our neighbor to the north, a pediatrician. I have some photographs somewhere which show him, grandfather and many others at the wedding of the doctor's daughter. Father relates that when he was little Carl would try out his children's stories on him and the other kids in what was then a Norwegian lakefront community.

Of course, I never met the famous man, just heard about him a lot, listened to an album of his reading some of those children's stories and saw his books on the shelves. When, under Kennedy, he appeared at the White House, the family watched. When, in 1967, he died, Dad bought out the papers with the headlines at the drugstore in nearby Stevensville, Michigan, visibly shaken. I was fifteen then, reading my first copy of The National Enquirer which, as I recall, featured an illustrated article of a boy eaten by a pig. I was looking at the photo of his reconstructed face, trying to figure out if it was fake, when Dad called my attention to the other, more credible and important death.

Like his father before him, Dad was, and remains, a socialist. He did a research project on Trotskyist cells when at Northwestern before the war, voted for Norman Thomas in '47, constantly criticized the Christians and the military-industrial complex. This book, doubtless, was a fixture in left-leaning households throughout the country, even during the depths of the cold war, because it does indeed impress upon the reader/viewer the archetypal commonalities which unite all persons at all times.

If one must have a coffee table book for general perusal, this is an excellent one.

[Stephanie Fysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting as a historical document -- an important moment in photography -- but frustrating in and of itself. The overrepresentation of the United States compared with the rest of the world, the triteness (perhaps it wasn't trite then?) of the theme and the selection of quotations, the disconcerting inconsistency in place names (why do we sometimes get a city in the United States, other times just USA? and almost never a city outside the US, just country names, or "Arctic"?), the used of a mixed bag of decades of photographs with no indication that some photos are less than contemporary with the exhibition, and the seeming overrepresentation of traditional dress on the European continent (partly attributable to the use of photos from earlier decades) -- those all nag at me. I can't view this as a collection of photographs without seeing it as a collection of photographs made by 1950s Americans. As a document of its time -- that is, of how its time began to see itself -- it is, however, interesting.

[Alison Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Museum of Modern Art in New York displayed a photographic exhibit in 1955. The exhibit was three years in the making with over two million submissions of photos. Author Edward Steichen, notes it was a daunting task to reduce the photos first to ten thousand, then 503 photos from 68 countries.

What I love about this book in addition to the amazing photos are the quotes from poets, The Bible, Anne Frank, etc. If one cannot afford to travel, there are always books. A book like this one takes you all over the world and gives one perspective. If anyone thinks he or she is alone in this journey of human joy and also suffering, as Virgil wrote, "What region of the earth is not full of our calamities?"

[Matthew Trevino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to find this at a local resale bookstore for only $1, and even more surprised at how much I enjoyed the images. This collection is great and, I think, can stand without historical context. However, historical context really adds to how much one can appreciate it.

I can only imagine what it was like to attend the exhibit and see this global community displayed in a grand fashion.

[David Timms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my parents getting this book in the middle 50s. It influenced me enormously and made me want to capture important events on film.

It is the first book of photos I remember buying, and I own hundreds of them. Yes, it is dated. But it shows a glimpse of a time that has gone by - and shows it without makeup or artifice. And it is a beautiful thing to my eyes.

[Anne Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had very few books around the house when I was growing up but we had this book. First published in 1955 it is full of black and white photographs chronicling the lives of people all over the world. I must have looked through this book 'a million times' as a kid and was pleased to see it on the coffee table at my mother's house when we visited her this weekend. What a gem.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading a book on Richard Avedon, this book was mentioned in the text of the biography. I suddenly recalled the title was familiar and thought I'd purchased it decades ago. Sure enough, in my photography collection of books, this book lie unread. So I pulled it from the dusty shelf and took my time viewing the photographs.
Many of the images I saw during my college years and their original meaning were void in this book. The book was published in 1955 and is a collection of 503 black & white photographs from many different photographers. The author (and fellow photgrapher) of this book, Edward Steichen, compiled this selection from 10,000 photos and put together a story of life, from birth to death.
I'm sorry to say, but I was disappointed with the selections. Not all, but a significant number. Perhaps the originals were more striking, but many I thought were forced into the story being told. Many images failed to carry the message. I often found myself asking why an image was selected.
A serious pet peeve of mine is blurry photos, and several were. Aside from lack of focus, several showed camera movement (vs subject movement, which does not detract from the image). Camera movement gives me the impression of lack of control and amateurish ability. These should have been eliminated.
Although the book contains photographs from many countries, I found myself wanting to know more about different images, and there was nothing.
I won't be keeping the book. It has little value for me on my bookcase regardless of whether it is a thick or thin book. I'm glad I didn't pay much for it.

[Angge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though, a historical moment in photography, I don't think there's anything ingenious about Steichen's famous photography exhibit. The exhibition itself denounced its purpose to provoke humanism in which is its main theme. Its approach was universal and corny, to be honest. Too western.

I saw the exhibition as a mere collection of images, of different photographers, stitched together to form a photo essay with a unified theme to show the human condition of the post-war years. That process seemed off to me as these individual photographs were silenced from their original context.

Knew about this MOMA exhibition through Susan Sontag's America, Seen Through Photographs, Darkly.

[Petri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy I wish I could have seen this exhibition with my own eyes. Was a beautiful example of daily life perfect moments. We could make it different now yes. More photos of non western cultures, more photos of suffering in daily life, war and catastrophic events. But in the 50, after the Second World War, what seemed important to Steichen was to show that western countries had the same culture and then adding hints here and there that all cultures around the world had similar habits. The war had given enough images of suffering people I think he wanted to show something positive. I wish we had more exhibitions like that nowadays.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The religiosity was unnecessary, and even a tad corny in context.

However, I did enjoy the groupings of photographs from all over the world around different themes of the human condition: love, lust, birth, death, war, atomic bombs (the book has a definite era). I think that decision helps to break down barriers between groups, and to showcase the commonalities. The civil rights section was especially powerful. And sadly still relevant, today.

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The common theme of life is reinforced. By reading this book and looking at the photographs it is clear that, despite wide cultural divides, man has one common human theme. We all need love, shelter, food, etc. I gave this book as a gift and neglected to buy one for myslef. The hard back edition is now out of print. I would like to pick up another copy for a coffee table book. I alternate the books on my coffee table for both myself and for visitors. This is a great one to share.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic collection of black and white photographs from around the world--accompanied by quotes from famous people--moving pictures from the Great Depression.
Published by MOMA I had this in my home growing up and still have it to pass on. This is a keeper. Prologue was witten by Carl Sandburg--book created by Edward Steichen. This book if food for thought.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most influential books of my life, both upon how I feel about humankind and about how I feel about photography (its importance, its beauty, and its power to tell a story, inspire, even heal).

[Jmolentin]

Very important in HS when designing the year book.

[Stephen Kiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be an understatement to call this a book of photographs.
First, because it began in 1955 as an art exhibit, which became the most popular photo show ever, with an extended stay in NYC and then appearances all over the world.
Second, because it is actually an essay, sometimes didactic but always engaging and often uplifting, on the human condition.
This book contains multitudes: joy and sorrow, birth and death, freedom and slavery. It is not possible to flip through these pages. They invite delight, and amusement, and introspection.
On the left page, you have a professor speaking to well dressed students in a lecture hall at Princeton University. On the right, an African storyteller inside a hut, with expressions of fascination on the faces of the children listening to him. What is common among us, what is our nature?
This exhibit received criticism for being too sunny, for failing to live up to the cultural and ethnic sensitivities of today. Fair enough.
But there is so much to divide us now. So much taking of sides instead of recognizing what is shared. This reminder of our common humanity is timely.
If you own only one book of photography, let it be this one. And read it slowly, like a dense novel, or an encyclopedia.

[Jo Young Switzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the year in the 1960s when I received this book for Christmas until now when I got a new copy to replace the one I got earlier, I'd found this book absolutely mesmerizing. The photographs capture pathos and joy and fear and beauty. The photograph of the worried woman during the Dust Bowl haunts me to this day. She shows the weight of love on her shoulders. If you want a book that captures the human spirit, this is it. It is a fitting gift for either sex and for all genders. It is a good book for all ages -- from children to retirees. It shows beauty and hate and fear and wealth and poverty. It reflects not just the rich variety of the U.S., but the beautiful range of skin colors and ages and socioeconomic levels of humankind. It is a wonderful gift for almost anyone . . . including yourself if you don't own it. We love to make sure our copy is in the guest room when we have family and friends staying over. It's a tangible message of "welcome" and "we are all human here."

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book from the 1955 MOMA Exhibition of the same name. Loved reading the written inserts with the photographs and seeing the dated black and white photographs of a time long ago. Things looked simpler then but probably hid a lot of misery and unhappiness, too.

One (1) star off because it was a bit too much Western perspective while bragging it was from 63 different countries. Could have used a lot more input from photographers and people from the rest of the world. Maybe it's time to do an update of this exhibit what with all the hatred and disharmony going on in the "family of man[kind]"?!? Food for thought there.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a record of the January 1955 exhibit The Family of Man, this is clearly a work of its time. One would hope that a similar project, if endeavored today, would be less centered on the U.S. and its famous photographers of the day, with a more inclusive set of chosen quotations and a more measured representation of the inequities of our world. What it is, though, is a 65-year-old treasure of skillful, poignant, composed and spontaneous photographs all aiming to capture the emotions, experiences, and foibles that unite the human experience. Leafing through it is an experience of singular pleasure and beauty.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a photo exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, then first published in book form in 1955, an inspiring, thought-provoking, smile-inducing collection of images.
It's humankind — captured in black-and-white — in its everyday, in its joy, in its sorrow, in its work and in its play, in its grief, in its loneliness, in its togetherness and in its oneness.
It's 503 photographs made by professionals and amateurs alike in 68 countries, photographs that help all who see them understand — and maybe accept? — how different we all are and at the same time how so very much alike we all are.

[Paul Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant compilation of photographs Edward Steichen assembled for a MOMA exhibit that opened in January 1955, this selection runs the gamut of humanity. Childbirth, childhood, women, men, courtship and marriage, work and war, relaxation, music, dancing, almost every significant event of being human is presented with amazing photographs, 503 altogether, from 68 countries.

One can sit for hours glued to these pages, studying the beauty and ugliness of man. It is an inspiration for all artists and a bible for our common man.

Highly recommended for readers of all ages!

[Андрій Кривцун · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding human race exploration at mid. 50th by Edward Steichen.

The book has strong narrative and conducts a reader through all human activities from birth till death. The Family of Man is filled with great humanism and I would send the book in a space ship to the aliens as Earth people presentation.

[VT Dorchester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grabbed this second hand for fifty cents with the idea of taking out some of the photos and using them in mail art or whatever, but have decided to keep the book (my copy is a former library copy and in a bit of rough shape) for now, as some of the images needs to be juxtaposed as presented in the book for them to have impact. Yes, like others have said about this book, the collection comes across as dated and US-centric now, (how many of the "Arctic" labelled photographs were taken in Canada, I wonder?) but as a result it also serves as pop history now.

[Ruth Lym · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 100 stars, I would!! I have given this book several times as gifts to people I love (the first time I gave it as a gift was in 1963 to my favorite history teacher in high school, and I watched while he read it during a study class we had. And I saw the amazed smiles on his face as he went through it! It is a very, very fond memory). It is truly an absolutely amazing book taken in its totality. Not easy to describe, but SO worth reading and owning and re-reading!

[Lk]

Truly an ambitious exhibition for photography when it was staged at MoMa in the 1950s. That's undeniable. But this isn't really The Family of Man if the photographs and photographers are predominantly white, which sadly to say, isn't a surprising curatorial direction during that time. Can't say that it was a noble attempt to create an image story of man if there's hardly any diversity. Philippines wasn't even included here.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that brings my childhood to mind. I used to take this off the shelf, sit on the floor and pour through the pictures of people from around the world. I loved it. Finding this on the shelf at the UBS was wonderful. I wanted to curl up on the floor and page through it, saying hello to my old friends. Instead, I brought it home. It's only now that I see it was the brainchild of Carl Sandburg.

[Elsabe Retief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got hold of this beautiful first print copy from the library from 1955. Well read and recovered. The quality of the pages are extraordinary considering how they held up with time and many readers.
I consider this THE book on both life and photography. I can look at it everyday of my life and never tire of it.
What a brilliant exhibition it must have been!

[Sara]

Incredible, beautiful imagery. I just wish I had a larger edition, or could see the exhibition itself. Some of the photos are quite small, and the print quality is not great. (It's good for a mass book but it's real bad for a photography book, but fine given the price.)

[Kevin Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that looks into the past that we have left behind. The creators of this exhibit and book were so hopeful on the future of humanity in 1951. We have not lived up to their hope and we have lost much of the community they had as we speed towards an impersonal future.

[Natalie Mott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry in photographs. I do wish there were more representation of varying cultures, but still what was represented brought me to tears. Wishing there were more doesn’t take away from the beauty that is included.