“A FUNCTION OF THE ART OF OBSERVATION”: NATKIN’S 1935 PHOTOGRAPHIC HOW-TO-DO BOOK, WITH EXAMPLES FROM BRASSAÏ, KERTESZ AND MAN RAY

NATKIN, Marcel. L’Art de Voir et la Photographie. Paris: Tiranty, (1935). Slim quarto, original flexible photographic covers. $250.

First edition of this 1935 overview of the art of photography, illustrated with 37 rich photogravures by Brassaï, Kertesz, Man Ray and others.

Marcel Natkin brought out two important books on photographic advice and useful tips, illustrated with photographs by such luminaries as Albin-Guillot, Brassaï, Schall, Boucher, Sougez, Duval, Kertesz, and Man Ray, among others. This is the first of Natkin’s “how-to-do” books, with the initial advisory, “The artistic quality of a photograph is a function of the art of observation.” Text in French. See Frizot, 576-77.

Light scattered spots of foxing. A near-fine copy.