Invisible Man: Gordon Parks and Ralph Ellison in Harlem by Michal Raz-Russo


Invisible Man: Gordon Parks and Ralph Ellison in Harlem
Title : Invisible Man: Gordon Parks and Ralph Ellison in Harlem
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 3958291090
ISBN-10 : 9783958291096
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 128
Publication : Published June 28, 2016

Parks and Ellison collaborated on two historic photo-essays, now published in full for the first time It is relatively unknown that the photographer Gordon Parks was close friends with Ralph Ellison, author of the acclaimed 1952 novel Invisible Man . Even less known is the fact that their common vision of racial injustices, coupled with a shared belief in the communicative power of photography, inspired collaboration on two important projects, in 1948 and 1952. Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the picture press,

Invisible Man: Gordon Parks and Ralph Ellison in Harlem Reviews

  • Troy

    Absolutely exceptional. To have two artists of this caliber collaborate on a great work and have that work lost would be unthinkable, to have TWO projects lost unfathomable. But here they are, mostly intact and absolutely breathtaking.

    The text gives a great sense of place and context, and extrapolates on the notes left by Ellison and Parks. I learned quite a bit about both men that I didn't know before - Ellison was a freelance photog, Parks the man who knew everyone - and the time in which they worked to make these two great works laid out in this tome.

    Not only is the exhibit special, but the exhibition catalogue allows for further exposition than given on the walls of the Art Institute. Am excellent and careful retelling and unearthing of a great story, previously thought lost.

  • T P Kennedy

    There is some fabulous writing in this and some exceptional photographs. However, the book never really coheres in trying to stitch together three very different projects undertaken by Parks and Ellison. This isn't at the same standard as other Steidl works given over to Parks photography.

  • Matt Carton

    Saw the exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago in July 2016. As IM is one of my favorite books to teach, and Parks is one of my favorite photographers, this is nothing short of astonishing.