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10/06/13 11:22Photobook Review: Vers l’Orient by Marc Riboud | Conscientious Photography Magazine
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PHOTOBOOK REV I EW
Photobook Review: Versl’Orient by Marc Riboud
In 1955, Marc Riboud left for what was to become athree-year trip east, vers l’orient, traveling to Turkey,Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Japan…Thirty years old, Henri Cartier-Bresson became amentor during that time. “I often found letters fromHenri waiting for me at General Delivery in Kabul, in
10/06/13 11:22Photobook Review: Vers l’Orient by Marc Riboud | Conscientious Photography Magazine
Page 2 sur 5http://cphmag.com/riboud-vers-lorient/
Jaipur, in Madras, in Ahmedabad, or in someIndonesian city whose name I forget.” writes Riboudin the essay that comes with Vers l’Orient, thepublication, which makes the photographs from thattime available again. Re-looking at the lettersdecades latter, the recipient finds “Henri again as hewas when I met him – infused with that determinationto proclaim what he believed to be the right way tophotograph, to look at painting, to understand acountry, to shun the picturesque, to ‘think’ a story, to‘organize it in the mind;’ and of course to see – tolearn to see – form and beauty.”
Can you imagine traveling the world, to find lettersby one of photography’s greatest, addressed to youand delivered in physical form to whatever remoteplace you might be going to? To go off on thattangent, this is not just a different mode of deliveryof information (which, technically, it is). It’s adifferent mode of time, where a letter might be on itsway for a few weeks. It’s also a different mode of
10/06/13 11:22Photobook Review: Vers l’Orient by Marc Riboud | Conscientious Photography Magazine
Page 3 sur 5http://cphmag.com/riboud-vers-lorient/
engagement, where what matters is not just what’son view in the most popular galleries, or what’s hotin the most coveted magazines, or what’s on vogueon the most popular blogs or Tumblrs. How many ofus take the time to look at painting, or try tounderstand a different country?
Vers l’Orient comes in the form of five books in abox. By themselves, the individual books areunassuming. Whoever thought of how to presentthese photographs resisted the temptation toproduce yet another massive, glossy book with toomany pictures. Instead, at 187 ! 200 mm (roughly 7" x 7 # inches) the books are modestly sized, andwith 64 pages they do not allow for an overly looseapproach to editing (which has marred so manyrecent releases of old material from otherphotographers). The presentation thus thankfullyenhances the work very nicely, strengthening asense of preciousness that can be found in many ofRiboud’s photographs.
10/06/13 11:22Photobook Review: Vers l’Orient by Marc Riboud | Conscientious Photography Magazine
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Riboud’s photographs.One could argue about whether or not the booksshow the photographer’s evolution as an artist. Thedifferent countries and subject matters would makethis a tricky endeavour. That said, my favourite bookby far is the last one, Japan, which is filled withphotographic gems, beautifully seen moments,many of which are touching portraits.
Knowing from Riboud’s essay that Cartier-Bressonsent regular comments about the work he was beingsent from the Far East I have been trying to imaginethe content. How instructive such a look behind thescenes would be! Maybe some day, we will all begranted a peek. In the meantime, there are Riboud’sphotographs to enjoy, in the form of Vers l’Orient,one of the finest (re-)releases of old material I haveseen in a while.
Vers l’Orient; photographs and essay by Marc Riboud;5 hardcover volumes in a box set; 5 ! 64 pages;Editions Xavier Barral; 2012
10/06/13 11:22Photobook Review: Vers l’Orient by Marc Riboud | Conscientious Photography Magazine
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PUBLI SHED17 May 2013
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