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Harry Gruyaert
Born in Antwerp in 1941 and a member of Magnum Photos since 1982, Harry Gruyaert revolutionized creative and experimental uses of color in the 1970s and 1980s. Influenced by cinema and American photographers, his work defined new territory for color photography: an emotive, non-narrative, and boldly graphic way of perceiving the world.
In 1972, while living in London, Gruyaert created the striking series TV Shots by turning the dial on a television set at random and photographing the distorted images he saw there. A later series, Made in Belgium, portrays his ambivalent relationship with his homeland in a palette of saturated tones. In his most recent work, he embraces the possibilities of digital photography, taking further creative risks to capture light in new ways.
Gruyaert’s images are autonomous, often independent of any context or thematic logic. This volume, the first retrospective of his work, is a superb overview of his personal quest for freedom of expression and the liberation of the senses.
In 1972, while living in London, Gruyaert created the striking series TV Shots by turning the dial on a television set at random and photographing the distorted images he saw there. A later series, Made in Belgium, portrays his ambivalent relationship with his homeland in a palette of saturated tones. In his most recent work, he embraces the possibilities of digital photography, taking further creative risks to capture light in new ways.
Gruyaert’s images are autonomous, often independent of any context or thematic logic. This volume, the first retrospective of his work, is a superb overview of his personal quest for freedom of expression and the liberation of the senses.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 8, 2018
Fascinating perspective on the world of colour photography, I have been following the likes of Ernst Haas, Alex Webb and William Eggleston who imbue colour as an art form within the medium of photography. They're many more I could mention here obviously, albeit these mentioned have a similar style to each other covering many aspects such as travel, borders and the banal everyday events of life.
This is a book which could be construed as a collectors item, if only to broaden ones understanding of colour photography, the images are incredible and the use of colour by Gruyaert is a very interesting palette.
A must buy.
This is a book which could be construed as a collectors item, if only to broaden ones understanding of colour photography, the images are incredible and the use of colour by Gruyaert is a very interesting palette.
A must buy.
March 23, 2022
Francois Hebel said it beautifully in the foreword of the monograph:
"When he takes pictures, Harry Gruyaert becomes a void and allows himself to be filled. He opens himself up in order to maintain better contorl over the pleasure of the moment htat is captured through his lens. An insatiable quest for sensuality, a need to give form to feeling: this is the story of his life."
"When he takes pictures, Harry Gruyaert becomes a void and allows himself to be filled. He opens himself up in order to maintain better contorl over the pleasure of the moment htat is captured through his lens. An insatiable quest for sensuality, a need to give form to feeling: this is the story of his life."
January 24, 2017
Luscious color street photography. A gentler, quieter Martin Parr feel (even has his own beach series, subtle and muted). The printing is very very good, though not Steidl great, which is the only strike against this book. But a delicious visual feast.
November 16, 2020
Beautifully printed book, and overall a solid introduction to Gruyaert's work. Compared to many other great photographers, however, Gruyaert is hit-and-miss. Some of his photos are stunning, others rather banal. I would say that about half of the pictures in this book could have been replaced with other, stronger photographs by him. It's not one of those monographs, in my opinion, where each and every photograph makes you stop and pause. But it's still worth a look or a purchase if you're a fan of Gruyaert.
August 31, 2017
Very well made book (too bad for the very short introduction / comment) dedicated to one of the main contemporary representative of a certain kind of color photography who somehow positions himself, in a very personal way (and as an European), as a wannabe "heir" of Saul Leiter and a sure "companion" of Alex Webb.
March 14, 2021
the greatest single artist collection of color photography I have ever seen
January 23, 2023
Some stunning photos, some a little busy and not for me. Great stuff though.
September 5, 2024
Des couleurs, des couleurs, et encore plus de couleurs. 😍
February 9, 2025
absolute inspiration
May 10, 2021
A fascinating portrayal of Gruyaert's fascination with shapes, objects, photographed in a rainbow of minimalistic quirk. With the informative and brief foreword you can make a connection with how he's made efforts to distance himself from his influences and find his signature style, which should not be mistaken for "singular style." A nice, quick lesson on photographic history.
December 21, 2016
Turn your gaze toward the shadows, the colors, the textures, the "empty" spaces--these are Gruyaert's true subjects.
October 13, 2016
Good for anyone interested in early color art photography.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews