Paris Mon Amour

by Jean-Claude Gautrand

At once a cosmopolitan metropolis, venue for a pensive stroll, and emblem of the modern, Paris has been a source of inspiration for countless artists and writers down through the ages. But not least it is the home and constant muse of a relatively young art: photography. Since the earliest days of the daguerreotype right up to our time, renowned photographers such as Joseph Nicéphore Niepce, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, and Jeanloup Sieff have lived and worked in the city of lights. Over the years a love affair developed between Paris and photography, giving rise to a remarkable record of the metropolis and a telling history of a new art form. This volume takes the reader on numerous walks, camera in hand, through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric black-and-white photos, shot by great photographers over two centuries, reveal the dramatic and the tranquil, the historic and the everyday―in the capital’s parks and gardens, boulevards and backstreets, passages and arcades, bistros and nightclubs.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, France, Travel, Art Design, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ely Gocce di Rugiada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una bella raccolta di fotografie sulla vita vera di Parigi.Per intenditori e amanti della fotografia intesa come cogliere l' attimo per capire il cambiamento della storia.

[Pedro Alhinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breve história da fotografia, e de Paris como capital mundial da fotografia, com selecção de imagens icónicas.
Pena que 8 imagens do capítulo "parques e jardins" dispensem a presença humana, quebrando a unidade de leitura visual.

[Avedon Arcadio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous book filled with incredible snapshots of a city and it’s people across a long time period. There’s some background context to the history of photography and France but it’s a bit dry and long winded. Regardless if that the pictures here are beautiful and eye opening. As a street photographer myself I appreciate capturing everyday folks out and about living their lives.

I do wish that they were maybe assembled in a more chronological order but overall good book!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rounding up from 3.75 stars. The photographs were beautiful but I found the organization a bit disjointed and the essay prior to the photos was very dry. I did appreciate that the photos were reflective more of the parts of Paris that we don't often see represented and the people who make up the heart of the city.

[Mike Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some lovely, evocative photographs, many showing how much Paris has changed and many others showing how little it has altered. All show affection for thus great city, its people, its culture and its history.
A lovely record.

[Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title in english says it all... "Paris, My Love" and that is what this collection of photographs is all about. The book features a bevy of photos by some of the giants in photography as they present their images of the Paris they loved.
Pictures date from 1836 to late 1960's.

[Aurora Shele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting pictures.. mostly related to people and fugitive nature rather than architecture and history.

[Algernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big format collection of black and white prints from the most famous French photographers: vintage photos, arhitecture, street scenes, night life, famous people, etc. Personally, I prefer "noir et blanc" to colour photography, and I glad I got this book on offer in a small boutique in the Marais. An added bonus is the familiarity of the places, like the one on the cover : Cafe Flores on Boulevard St. Germain, a great spot to have the morning coffee and watch the world pass by.

[The Reading Room at Hamilton House]

Rosalind Harvey

[Stephanie (Stepping Out Of The Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of diverse photographs from the city of love.