RENGER-PATZSCH, Albert (1897-1966)

[Photobook] Eisen und Stahl [Iron and Steel]

Berlin: Verlag Hermann Reckendorf G. m. b. H., 1931. Second Edition. Quarter-Cloth. Virtually pristine example of this cornerstone of "Neue Sachlichkeit" ("New Objectivity") photography, by one of its leading practitioners. Foreword by Albert Vögler. Slim royal 8vo (300 x 210mm): [14]pp, with 97 numbered and captioned photographs. Publisher's royal blue cloth spine over yellow patterned paper-covered boards printed in black (far less common—and more handsome—than the silver metallic binding of the first edition); without the rare dust jacket. Fine copy, tightly bound and clean throughout. Parr & Badger I, p. 125. Roth (Open Book), pp. 102-103. Roth (101 Books), p. 50. Auer, p. 134. Fotographia Publica, p. 203. Fine. Item #BB2005

One of the most important of the two dozen or so photobooks by Albert Renger-Patzsch ("a master of the dynamic close-up"), best-known for Welt ist schön and founder of the Neue Sachlichkeit movement, which brought a sharply focused, documentary quality to photography. His ambition in each of these collections, as in Eisen und Stahl (inspired by Charles Sheeler’s photographs of the Ford Rouge factory), was to present "pictures that were above all straightforward, easily apprehended documents, free of the distracting artistic interventions of his avant-garde contemporaries." (Roth 101) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $874.00