American Photographs (Robert Frank's Copy, Inscribed by Evans).
New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1938. First Edition. Small quarto. A supreme association copy, warmly INSCRIBED by Walker Evans to front endpaper: "Robert Frank. Where did you get this book. I would happily give it to you, for good reasons, if I had a copy. W.E." In an artist's statement printed in the 1958 issue of U.S. Camera—referring to his own landmark photobook, The Americans— the Swiss-born Frank directly acknowledged his debt to Evans: "The work of two contemporary photographers, Bill Brandt of England and the American, Walker Evans, have influenced me. When I first looked at Walker Evans' photographs, I thought of something Malraux wrote: 'To transform destiny into awareness.' One is embarrassed to want so much for oneself. But, how else are you going to justify your failure and your effort?" With pencil annotation to plate 19. Cosmetic split at rear pastedown and minor scuffing to spine label; a close to near fine copy, lacking the jacket, with errata slip tipped-in at front. Housed in half-leather clamshell with gilt lettering to spine. Arguably the most significant association copy of Evans' landmark photobook, documenting one of the artform's most consequential lines of influence.
Item #23347
Price: $100,000.00