Edited by Nadine Barth and Mary Engel. Text by Kristen Gresh, Ruth Orkin.
Classic portraits, New York scenes and more from the brilliant and indefatigable American photographer
A Wall Street Journal 2021 holiday gift guide pick
American photographer Ruth Orkin earned acclaim for her work as she combined her love for travel and her experience growing up in Hollywood into a practice that captured the cinematic elements of everyday life and revealed the humanity of the upper crust. The atmospheric photographs taken by Orkin in cities such as Florence, New York and London still shape the image of these metropolises today: her street scenes consistently offer penetrating insights into the personality of her human subjects as well as their environments. This unique quality also manifests in her celebrity portraits of figures such as Albert Einstein, Marlon Brando, Tennessee Williams and Lauren Bacall: though clearly posed, these photographs offer a certain level of candor that allows the viewer to connect with the sitters on a human level. She also pursued filmmaking with two successful features, Little Fugitive (1953) and Lovers and Lollipops (1955)—and she did all of this as one of the few female practitioners in the field. Published on the occasion of what would have been the photographer’s 100th birthday, this illustrated volume celebrates Orkin’s life and career with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist's oeuvre. Ruth Orkin (1921–85) studied at Los Angeles City College. Working as a freelance photographer, she published in magazines such as Life, Look and Ladies' Home Journal. She was awarded an Oscar for the film Little Fugitive, which she made with her husband in 1953. A World Through My Window (1978) is her best-known book of photographs.
"American Girl in Italy, Florence, Italy" (1951) is reproduced from 'Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit'.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
Guardian
Tim Adams
Published on the centenary of her birth, this retrospective book of Orkin’s work is edited by her daughter Mary Engel.
Bookforum
Sarah Moroz
Unhampered by the male-dominated milieu, Orkin forged a creative vision that was playful and bold.
Blind
Sara Rosen
Orkin created a singular archive of mid-twentieth century life, capturing a feeling of optimism that defined the modern.
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This 1949 photograph of housewife Geraldine Dent grocery shopping at a New York City vegetable market is also the very first 35-mm color photograph to appear on the cover of a popular magazine—in the March 1950 issue of McCall’s. It is reproduced from new release Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit, published on the occasion of the photographer’s centennial birthday, September 3, 2021. This is also the opening date for Ruth Orkin: Expressions of Life, on view at Fotografiska New York now through December 5. continue to blog
FORMAT: Hbk, 10.75 x 10.75 in. / 240 pgs / 20 color / 187 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $48.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $66 ISBN: 9783775750950 PUBLISHER: Hatje Cantz AVAILABLE: 9/21/2021 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA LA
Published by Hatje Cantz. Edited by Nadine Barth and Mary Engel. Text by Kristen Gresh, Ruth Orkin.
Classic portraits, New York scenes and more from the brilliant and indefatigable American photographer
A Wall Street Journal 2021 holiday gift guide pick
American photographer Ruth Orkin earned acclaim for her work as she combined her love for travel and her experience growing up in Hollywood into a practice that captured the cinematic elements of everyday life and revealed the humanity of the upper crust.
The atmospheric photographs taken by Orkin in cities such as Florence, New York and London still shape the image of these metropolises today: her street scenes consistently offer penetrating insights into the personality of her human subjects as well as their environments. This unique quality also manifests in her celebrity portraits of figures such as Albert Einstein, Marlon Brando, Tennessee Williams and Lauren Bacall: though clearly posed, these photographs offer a certain level of candor that allows the viewer to connect with the sitters on a human level. She also pursued filmmaking with two successful features, Little Fugitive (1953) and Lovers and Lollipops (1955)—and she did all of this as one of the few female practitioners in the field.
Published on the occasion of what would have been the photographer’s 100th birthday, this illustrated volume celebrates Orkin’s life and career with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist's oeuvre.
Ruth Orkin (1921–85) studied at Los Angeles City College. Working as a freelance photographer, she published in magazines such as Life, Look and Ladies' Home Journal. She was awarded an Oscar for the film Little Fugitive, which she made with her husband in 1953. A World Through My Window (1978) is her best-known book of photographs.
