Overview

Discover the definitive collection of one of the world's most compelling photographers. Alen MacWeeney: Anthology is the first comprehensive retrospective spanning 70 years of the acclaimed Irish photographer's extraordinary career. From his beginnings as a teenage press photographer in Dublin to his apprenticeship with the legendary Richard Avedon in New York and Paris, MacWeeney swiftly abandoned the studio to develop a signature style of composed, yet gritty, street photography. This volume showcases the vast and deeply human scope of his work, distinguished by a painterly eye that reveals the profound character of its subjects. At the heart of the collection is MacWeeney's celebrated and compassionate documentation of the Irish Travellers, a crucial cultural record capturing a vanishing way of life. The book features iconic works, including his poignant photographs of the conflict in Northern Ireland, intimate portrayals of family members of the Bloomsbury Group, and the melancholy street portraits of his 1970s New York Subway series. MacWeeney's masterful control of light and composition--from rich colours to a vast range of gorgeous greys--lends a thoughtful, quiet repose to his images, giving the sense that the subject has only just left the room. With over 300 pages of stunning reproductions, this essential book solidifies MacWeeney's place among the masters of modern photography. His photographs are held in the permanent collections of major institutions worldwide, including MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Art Institute of Chicago. For collectors, photography enthusiasts, and lovers of Irish history, Anthology is a timeless and powerful testament to a life spent behind the lens.

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9781782050971

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Reviews

Alen MacWeeney's photographs often feel channelled rather than captured.--Ross McDonnell Alen McWeeney is one of the most creative and beautifully evocative photographers at work today. Anthology is a book of revelations.--John Banville

Alen McWeeney is one of the most creative and beautifully evocative photographers at work today. Anthology is a book of revelations.--John Banville

Author Information

Alen MacWeeney, born in Dublin in 1939 and based in New York, is an internationally acclaimed photographer who launched his career in Paris as Richard Avedon's assistant. Over five decades, he has become renowned for his distinctive, painterly approach, which allows the character of his subjects to emerge with a sense of thoughtful repose. MacWeeney's versatility is evident in his acclaimed bodies of work, notably his compassionate, gritty portraits of Irish Travellers and his documentation of the conflict in Northern Ireland. His work also captures moments of everyday life, such as his celebrated New York Subway series. His masterful use of light and composition creates a wide range of emotion, from humor to drama. His photographs have been featured in major publications like The New Yorker and Aperture, and his ten books include Irish Travellers and Bloomsbury Reflections. MacWeeney's work is held in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

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