Peter Galassi focuses on Evans as one of the great photographers of the twentieth century who also had a huge influence on many American photographers (and some contemporary graphic artists) and the ten visual chapters in this beautiful book provide a convincing case.

Photography as an art form has had a hard time proving it. Unlike fine art paintings, which exist as an entity, photography has mainly presented a visual record in many printed mediums (newspapers, magazines, advertising, packaging, posters) all seen by the public but not as art. Walker Evans helped to change that perception in America.

The first two chapters are interesting because Galassi features photographers who influenced Evans, especially Eugene Atget and his studies of Paris. The remaining eight each start with work by Evans then the chapter theme is carried on by other well-known photographers (and artists) who drew inspiration from the style and subject matter in his work. The hundred creative folk featured are a who's who of American photography since the 1940s.

Just over three hundred images are shown printed in an impressively fine screen (more than 250dpi) that brings out the wonderful detail in so many of them. Galassi contributes a fine introduction and each photographer get a comprehensive list of their photos in the back of the book. Overall I thought this was a fascinating survey American art photography whose origins clearly owe so much to Walker Evans.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.