In the last decade there has been a major reappraisal of the role and status of the photobook within the history of photography. Newly revised histories of photography as recorded via the photobook have added enormously to our understanding of the medium’s culture, particularly in places that are often marginalized, such as Latin America and Africa. However, until now, only a handful of Chinese books have made it onto historians’ short lists. Yet China has a fascinating history of photobook publishing.
The Chinese Photobook reveals for the first time the richness and diversity of this heritage. This truly monumental publication is based on a collection compiled by Martin Parr and Dutch photographer team WassinkLundgren. The selection of books includes key volumes published as early as 1900, socialist realist photography from the early days of the Communist Party and the Cultural Revolution as well as contemporary volumes by emerging Chinese photographers.
