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Paris. Portrait of a City
The vivid history of the capital of love and photography
A city built on two millennia of history, Paris is entering the third century of its love story with photography. It was on the banks of the Seine that Niepce and Daguerre officially gave birth to this new art that has flourished ever since, developing a distinctive language and becoming a vital tool of knowledge.
Paris, Portrait of a City leads us through what Goethe described as “universal city where every step upon a bridge or a square recalls a great past, where a fragment of history is unrolled at the corner of every street.” This history is recounted in photographs, all the way from Daguerre’s incunabula to the most recent images. In fact, Paris can claim to be the only city in the world whose archives house an almost complete record of over a century and a half of transformations. This huge panorama of nearly 600 pages and as many photographs makes Paris, Portrait of a City unique. This book brings together the past and the present, the monumental and the everyday, objects and people. Thanks to images captured by the most illustrious photographers – Daguerre, Marville, Atget, Lartigue, Brassaï, Kertész, Ronis, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson and many more – but also by many unknown amateurs, these pages show the essential workings of a human drama acted out on the stage of history. These visions attempt to bottle just a little of that “Parisian air”, something of that particular poetry given out by the stones and inhabitants of a constantly changing city that has inspired untold numbers of writers and artists over the ages.
Presenting an exciting patchwork of images from past and present, Paris, Portrait of a City is a huge and unique photographic study that, in a way, is the true family album of all Parisians. It is to them, and to all lovers of this capital city, that this vibrant, loving and tender testimony is dedicated.
A city built on two millennia of history, Paris is entering the third century of its love story with photography. It was on the banks of the Seine that Niepce and Daguerre officially gave birth to this new art that has flourished ever since, developing a distinctive language and becoming a vital tool of knowledge.
Paris, Portrait of a City leads us through what Goethe described as “universal city where every step upon a bridge or a square recalls a great past, where a fragment of history is unrolled at the corner of every street.” This history is recounted in photographs, all the way from Daguerre’s incunabula to the most recent images. In fact, Paris can claim to be the only city in the world whose archives house an almost complete record of over a century and a half of transformations. This huge panorama of nearly 600 pages and as many photographs makes Paris, Portrait of a City unique. This book brings together the past and the present, the monumental and the everyday, objects and people. Thanks to images captured by the most illustrious photographers – Daguerre, Marville, Atget, Lartigue, Brassaï, Kertész, Ronis, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson and many more – but also by many unknown amateurs, these pages show the essential workings of a human drama acted out on the stage of history. These visions attempt to bottle just a little of that “Parisian air”, something of that particular poetry given out by the stones and inhabitants of a constantly changing city that has inspired untold numbers of writers and artists over the ages.
Presenting an exciting patchwork of images from past and present, Paris, Portrait of a City is a huge and unique photographic study that, in a way, is the true family album of all Parisians. It is to them, and to all lovers of this capital city, that this vibrant, loving and tender testimony is dedicated.
548 pages, Hardcover
First published December 30, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2021
Realized my understanding of my favourite city was very superficial at best. This book is itself an exhibition that showcases the history of Paris through the lens of the cameras or the lens of different viewpoints. Readers can travel through time and space, and to appreciate this city a little more in depth. I loved the twilight blue color of the title on the cover and the bookmark, constantly reminding me of those blue rooftops of Parisian apartments.
January 3, 2026
Nádherná vizuální procházka historií Paříže.
January 13, 2024
Normally I'm not too much into books on cities but I couldn't resist the cover motif. Inside you'll get the best impression imaginable of that fascinating town. Its streets, building, how the Eiffel Tower was erected, its artists, Christos work, Lagerfeld, the Moulin Rouge... incredible portrait of a world famous town from past to present to today. Great photos and what a long history. Can highly recommend to visit this city and have a look at that volume!
December 11, 2024
I saw this book at Pottery Barn for about $75. In the few moments I flipped through it I knew I had to own it. I then found it online elsewhere for $30. It has 100+ years of rare and magnificent photos of life and architecture of Paris through two centuries of photography. Written next to 100s and 100s of photos in French, English and German,are detailed descriptions of what your seeing. A great book for any who love Paris and want to see more of it. It’s a keeper.
July 5, 2015
Este es el tercer libro de fotografías que "leo", y la verdad aunque me gustó en su gran mayoría, siento que no llegué a emocionarme como en los otros dos. Las imágenes recogían a famosos fotógrafos quienes capturaron a París en sus diversas épocas, donde la cultura se diversificaba cada vez más y las personas y los lugares se iban adaptando a los cambios que marcaban cada fecha. Me parece muy lindo el detalle de colocar frases de libros o poemas que hablaran de París, y las imágenes todas hermosísimas. Pero lo que no me convenció del todo fueron las imágenes a colores, hubiese preferido que las hubieran dejado en B/N, creo que así transmitían más para mí. Estoy deseando degustar la vista con más libros de fotografías :D
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews