Evocations of Place: The Photography of Edwin Smith

by Robert Elwall, Irena Murray (Foreword by)

Overview

Hailed by the poet and architectural historian Sir John Betjeman as 'a genius at photography', Edwin Smith (1912–1971) was one of Britain’s foremost photographers. At the time of his death he was widely regarded as without peer in his sensitive renditions of historic architecture and his empathetic evocations of place. The recurrent themes of Smith’s work – a concern for the fragility of the environment; an acute appreciation of the need to combat cultural homogenization by safeguarding regional diversity; and a conviction that architecture should be rooted in time and place – are as pressing today as when Smith first framed them in his elegant compositions. By providing the first in-depth survey of his work, this book introduces Smith’s poignant imagery to a new generation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781858946382
Publisher:	Merrell Publishers, LTD
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Robert Elwall (1953–2012) was Photographs Curator of the Royal Institute of British Architects, London.

Irena Murray is a Senior Research Associate of The British Architectural Library

Editorial Reviews

Although the art of Edwin Smith is relatively unknown today, when he died of cancer in 1971, he was one of England's most beloved photographers. Smith's images of quintessential English architecture, landscapes, gardens, and interiors were truly detailed and sensitive. He declared himself "an architect by training, a painter by inclination and a photographer by necessity," but his images have been favorably compared to many of the era's masters, including Eugène Atget and Ansel Adams. Elwall (photographs curator, British Architectural Lib., Royal Inst. of British Architects, London; Building with Light: The International History of Architectural Photography) divides this attractively designed book into three chapters: "Discovering Photography," "Discovering Britain," and "Discovering Abroad." Each traces the evolution of Smith's interest in and mastery of the medium of photography, while the more than 180 beautifully reproduced black-and-white photographs illustrate the historical and aesthetic value of his work. Revived discussion of this under-recognized artist will surely follow publication of this worthwhile career retrospective. Recommended for both photography and architecture collections.
—Shauna Frischkorn

Library Journal