Self Portrait by Lee Friedlander, Signed Edition

Self Portrait by Lee Friedlander

D.A.P. and Fraenkel Gallery Reissue, 1998

Signed by Lee Friedlander

FINE Condition

This is a signed edition of the critically acclaimed photobook, “Self Portrait” published by D.A.P. (Distributed Art Publishers), New York in association with the Fraenkel Gallery San Francisco in 1998. Originally published in 1970 by Haywire Press, this beautifully produced new edition of "Self Portrait" is a faithful reproduction of the original edition with a new afterword by John Szarkowski, former Director of the Department of Photography at The Museum of Modern Art. From the Publisher, “: "Lee Friedlander's surreal sensibility is on full display in this set of photographs, originally published in 1970. Here Friedlander focuses on the role of his own physical presence in his images. He writes: 'At first, my presence in my photos was fascinating and disturbing. But as time passed and I was more a part of other ideas in my photos, I was able to add a giggle to those feelings.' Here readers can witness this progression as Friedlander appears in the form of his shadow, or reflected in windows and mirrors, and only occasionally fully visible through his own camera. In some photos he visibly struggles with the notion of self-portraiture, desultorily shooting himself in household mirrors and other reflective surfaces. Soon, though, he begins to toy with the pictures, almost teasingly inserting his shadow into them to amusing and provocative effect-elongated and trailing a group of women seen only from the knees down; cast and bent over a chair as if seated in it; mirroring the silhouette of someone walking down the street ahead of him; or falling on the desert ground, a large bush standing in for hair. These uncanny self-portraits evoke a surprisingly full landscape of the artist's life and mind.”

Measuring approximately 9.5” x 10” and containing 46 beautiful duotone plates, the book is bound in photographically illustrated wraps. The book and wraps are in FINE condition.

The book has been signed by Lee Friedlander on the introductory page.

Cited in “The Book of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the Twentieth Century” by Andrew Roth

Photographs of the book, signature page, and photographs contained in the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the pictures are viewable as a slideshow.