Considered a groundbreaking book when first published
in 1985, John Gossage's ''The Pond'' remains one of the
most important photobooks of the medium. As Gerry
Badger, coauthor of ''The Photobook: A History,''
Volumes I and II, asserts, ''Adams, Shore, Baltz--all
the New Topographics photographers made great books, but
none are better than ''The Pond.'''' Consisting of
photographs taken around and away from a pond situated
in an unkempt wooded area at the edge of a city, the
volume presents a considered foil to Henry Thoreau's
stay at Walden. The photographs in ''The Pond'' do not
aspire to the ''beauty'' of classical landscapes in the
tradition of Ansel Adams. Instead, they reveal a subtle
vision of reality on the border between man and nature.
Gossage depicts nature in full splendor, yet at odds
with both itself and man, but his tone is ambiguous and
evocative rather than didactic. Robert Adams described
the work as ''believable because it includes evidence of
man's darkness of spirit, memorable because of the
intense fondness [Gossage] shows for the remains of the
natural world.'' Aperture now reissues this exquisitely
produced and highly collectible classic monograph. With
the addition of three images and two essays, this second
edition offers new audiences the opportunity to
celebrate this notable work by a master photographer and
bookmaker.John Gossage (born 1946) is well known for his
artist's books and photographic publications, and has
produced 17 books and boxes on specific bodies of work.
In the 1960s, he studied briefly with Lisette Model and
Alexey Brodovitch. Since then, his work has been
exhibited worldwide. His photographs are held in
numerous private and public collections, including those
of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gossage lives in
Washington, D.C. |
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