Eakins and the Photograph: Works by Thomas Eakins and His Circle in the Collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

One of the foremost American painters of the 19th century, Eakins (1844-1916) was also a pioneer photographer, his most innovative aspect being his emphasis on the nude, then rarely encountered in the US. This catalogue of the Eakins photographs in the Pennsylvania Academy's Charles Bregler collection includes about three-fourths of Eakins' photographic output. It describes the entire collection of 648 images, reproducing 173 b&w photographs, 52 duotones, and a portfolio section of 16 tritones. The accompanying essays suggest new ways of looking at the photographs in terms not only of Eakins' own art but also of the history of the medium. 10.25x9.75" Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Is controversy over the depiction of nudity in art photography a recent development? Apparently not, as evidenced by a fascinating catalog of the rarely published Charles Bregler collection-a volume devoted to the art, scientific, record, and candid photography of Philadelphia artist and teacher Eakins. His studies of motion have generally received more attention than his artistic photographs, but a stable of Eakins's scholars has set this oversight to rights through an examination of his work, his collaborative efforts with students, and the output of his wife, Susan MacDowell Eakins. The very high quality illustrations include 16 tritones, 52 duotones, and 173 photographs. A handsome and scholarly offering that is highly recommended for American art and photography collections; for more general references on Eakins, see John Wilmerding's Thomas Eakins (LJ 2/1/94) and William Innes Homer's Thomas Eakins: His Life and Art (LJ 2/1/93).
Kathleen Eagen Johnson, Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.