The Family of Man.

STEICHEN, Edward.

$2,000.00

Item Number: 126767

New York : Museum of Modern Art, 1955.

First edition of this classic work. Quarto, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Mrs. Sheppard with all good wishes Edward Steichen.” In near fine condition. Prologue written by Steichen’s brother-in-law, Carl Sandburg. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

"In 1955, Steichen opened the exhibition The Family of Man, the most universally popular photography exhibition ever organized" (Icons of Photography, 16) and still considered the medium's "landmark show" (Roth, 146). Structured as "a journey through the seven stages of man, from birth to death, [it was] compiled from pictures taken all around the world… It tends to depoliticize the human condition by emphasizing universals rather than specifics" (Parr & Badger I:210). Steichen's inscription fondly refers to his longtime neighbor in West Redding, Connecticut, Elmo Roper, who "acquired national fame… [as one of] the first to develop the modern political polls" (New York Times). First published earlier the same year by the Museum of Modern Art, this later printing includes all 503 photographs and an additional section on the installation itself.