Exiles

by Czesław Miłosz, Josef Koudelka (Photographer)

Josef Koudelka has been acknowledged by the London Times as "the most potent and powerful photographer alive today." Unsentimental, solitary, deeply felt, sometimes troubling, Koudelka's photographs confront us, penetrate us, demand that we reflect on life's pilgrimage. The book's opening essay, by Nobel Prizewinning author Czeslaw Milosz, provides a moving counterpoint to these images. EXiles also features an expanded biography and bibliography on Koudelka, as well as many new photographs. Born in Moravia, Josef Koudelka began his career as an aeronautical engineer. His book Gypsies was published by Aperture in 1975.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Art and Photography

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Czesław Miłosz was a Nobel Prize winning poet and author of Polish-Lithuanian heritage. He memorialised his Lithuanian childhood in a 1955 novel, The Issa Valley , and in the 1959 memoir Native Realm . After graduating from Sigismund Augustus Gymnasium in Vilnius, he studied law at Stefan Batory University and in 1931 he travelled to Paris, where he was influenced by his distant cousin Oscar Milosz, a French poet of Lithuanian descent and a Swedenborgian. His first volume of poetry was published in 1934.

After receiving his law degree that year, he again spent a year in Paris on a fellowship. Upon returning, he worked as a commentator at Radio Wilno, but was dismissed, an action described as stemming from either his leftist views or for views overly sympathetic to Lithuania. Miłosz wrote all his poetry, fiction, and essays in Polish and translated the Old Testament Psalms into Polish.

Awarded the 1980 Nobel Prize in Literature for being an author "who with uncompromising clear-sightedness voices man's exposed condition in a world of severe conflicts."

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible black and white photos with emphasis on the ordinary but extraordinary . Life in Europe in last years of the previous century as seen by Koudelka. Not exactly pretty or happy pictures.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super essay by Czeslaw Milosz in the introduction here, but overall I enjoyed Koudelka's Exiles less than his earlier, earthier, work on the Gypsies in Slovakia. Exiles seems a little too arty at times. The earlier Gypsies is also experimental and revolutionary in its own way, but seems more natural and engaged, less interested in making a statement about art than a statement about people.

Whereas the young Koudelka personally got to know the Romani, visiting them in their forced settlements over the course of several years, his work in Exiles seems more distant. Undoubtedly, this is a mark of Koudelka's own experience after he fled Prague in the wake of the 1968 Revolution and wandered over Western Europe. For all that, it struck me less, and while technically more accomplished, conceptually seems more scattered and less compelling than Gypsies. His photos of the Romani were rich because they grew out of extended observation of one group of people.

Fortunately, neither of these books is dry photojournalism or blasé news reportage. Koudelka's universal reach beyond the surface of things toward the soul underneath is masterful, but I was more drawn into his smaller project in Gypsies.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koudelka has an uncanny ability to capture the sculptural quality of light, building an architecture of photography through stunning compositions and a tactile exploration of the world - his pictures feel tangible, just there on the other side of the frame. Nobody does it quite like him.

And Czesław Miłosz’s introductory essay is a masterpiece on its own - a moving analysis of exile and creation, loss and rebirth. I felt spoken to in a way little other writing ever has, in limpid, poetic, efficient language.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite living photographer, and my favorite photographic book. I had this out of the library almost constantly when I was a student. Odd, because his work is so different to what mine was at the time.

[Dev Tank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic and gracious photography from a deep thinker Josef Koudelka represents important work from the late 20th century.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been wading into the world of photography of late and eagerly brushing up on the classics; Koudelka is a very recent discovery and I was struck by his pretty raw/realistic style, loved it; a lot of his work is freely available online at the internet archive, go check them out!

[Jonatan Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una gran sensibilidad por el dolor humano y una habilidad extraordinaria para trabajar en contextos complejos

[Laurent Hsia · Rating 5 out of 5]

CCC Graz 2025

[Constant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5:
While I didn't feel too connected with the photography, it was still cool to look at. I found this one cause of recommendations for books like The Wisonsin Death Trip, both having dark, eerie photos. Overall, it did what it needed to do.
- Constant Reader

[Sakis Dazanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic and great book.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting black and white photographs.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essay at the beginning of the book (also published here: http://www.americansuburbx.com/2009/0...) is my favorite part.