John Gossage: The Nicknames of Citizens

by John Gossage (Artist)

The third volume in John Gossage’s ongoing exploration of America and its people This clothbound volume continues Washington, DC–based photographer John Gossage’s (born 1946) astute, critical and witty look at his native America, following Should Nature Change (2019) and the upcoming Jack Wilson’s Waltz . Whether in California, Indiana or New York, whether his subjects are young artists, nondescript suburbia or a dirt road, Gossage’s approach is the same.

“Nicknames,” he writes, “are mostly a second naming of a person after their true character is known. When a child is born the parents choose a name, if it fits all the way though life it is a lucky guess. Picture-making (mine at least) seems to me like trying to find the correct nickname for something I’ve found existing in the world and photographed. This book and these pictures make that attempt with the country of my birth and its citizens.”

Genres: Photography

144 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2020

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a complicated relationship with Gossage's work. Some books (The Pond and Berlin in the Time of the Wall in particular) are masterpieces. There is clearly great moments in this book/trilogy, and yet others that seem more trite. If it weren't Gossage it wouldn't have been published. And I also recognize that part of my complicated response is born from my own approach being so similar! I'd like to really give this a 3.5 stars.

And also, for a Steidl publication seems a little sloppy. Many of the pictures muddy up in the darker regions, atypical for a Steidl book.