ARTIFICIAL OF THE REAL, THE - TRCKA - WESTON - NEWTON

This sumptuous book features the work of three of the greatest photographic artists of this century. It is an interesting grouping of quite different artists, including the soft, atmospheric portraits of Trcka; the crisp, sensual still lifes of Weston; and the stark nudes of Newton. The book is unified by the theme of photographic form, notably in portraiture and the human figure, as well as Weston's classic still lifes. Although technically a catalog for a 1998 German exhibition curiously titled "The Artificial of the Real," the large-format, clothbound book is beautifully reproduced and reasonably priced, especially given the high production values. Exhibition catalogs often present artists in the freshest and most insightful light, and this book is no exception. It offers a rare opportunity to glimpse the work of three accomplished photographers and to gain some understanding of how their work is viewed today.