La France de Profile
by: Paul Strand and Claude Roy

Hardcover. NY, Aperture, reprint, 2001, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: Very Good, Hardcover, 144 pages. Originally published in French by La Guilde du Livre (Lausanne, Switzerland, 1952) and here reissued by the Aperture Foundation in a first English-language edition, this a profile of life in mid-century rural France by the great American photographer Strand (1890-1976). Following World War II, Strand moved to France and documented its rural areas in photographs. These close-up, seemingly candid images of the people, the countryside, and the architectural structures contain Strand's characteristic style of realism, depth of detail, and innate sensitivity to the environment. To supplement these exquisite pictures, French poet Roy, who knew Strand personally, provides a delightfully lyrical potpourri of poems, commentary, and collages assembled from bits of small-town newspapers. The timeless spirit of the Gallic legacy captured in the photos and words will be savored by Francophiles. Strand's importance in 20th-century photography makes this a highly recommended addition for public libraries and special photography collections.