LARRAIN, Sergio - Vagabond photographer

ORIGINALLY SHRINK WRAPPED GERMAN EDITION!

Background information

"Sergio LARRAÍN crossed the photographic universe like a meteorite. After much travelling, his concern for purity and his attraction to meditation led him to withdraw to the Chilean countryside and live self- sufficiently. From there he began to write concerned as he was about the need to encourage the world to wake up to its possible fate while continuing in his deep love of photography. His work became limited to instants of enlightenment, pure moments of amazement. Sergio LARRAIN only published four books of his work during his lifetime, and a complete monograph of his work has never been put together. It was his choice, but this book fills that gap. Created with the full agreement of his family, it is edited by Agnes Sire, who after keeping up a long correspondence with the photographer, has worked with Magnum on preserving his estate.

Content

The selection of over 200 photographs is made up of two main axes, Latin America and Europe: Macchu Pichu, Bolivia, Chile and Valparaiso; and London, Paris and Italy. A true reflection of Sergio LARRAIN's extraordinary personality,  the book, 'Vagabond Photographer', also features a selection of essential letters, drawings, workbooks and handwritten texts about meditation." (© Éditions Barral, 2013)

In the press

"A double-whammy of perfectly produced career retrospectives of two great and underappreciated artists. Beautifully understated design, great printing and solid scholarship make both books must-haves for any serious photo library." (© Alec SOTH about two books 'Emmet GOWIN' and 'Sergio LARRAIN. Vagabond photographer')
"What a total treat. Here we have all the classic iconic images from this wonderful photographer who died only last year. On top of that Agnes Sire has dug up many unknown Larrains as good as the ones we know and love. It is a most elegant design from the excellent Xavier Barral, with stunning printing. It doesn’t get much better than this." (© Martin Parr for 'The Telegraph')
"A man shrouded in mystery, Sergio LARRAÍN could be called a photographer’s photographer. As­suming the perspective of a vagabond, the Chilean captured breathtaking images, largely working in the 1950s and 1960s. Dramatic light, dark shadows, and experimental cropping characterize these black-and-white photographs, immediate and sensitive pictures of prostitutes, street children, and beggars, who are always surrounded by an air of poetry. At the invitation of his friend Henri CARTIER-BRESSON, Sergio LARRAIN be­came a full member of Magnum Photos in 1961, but he then retreated from cooperating with the media. This first publication to provide an overview of the pi­oneering work of this independent mind was devel­oped in collaboration with Sergio LARRAIN’s heirs. It naturally also includes photographs from Valparaiso, probably his most famous book project, for which no one less than Pablo Neruda wrote the accompanying text." (© Hatje Cantz Verlag, 2013)

About Chilean Magnum photographer Sergio LARRAÍN (1931-2012)

Photo books by and on the work of Sergio LARRAÍN