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Collection History

This digital collection offers the portraits taken by American-born photographer Alvin Langdon Coburn (1882-1966) primarily in England, where he moved in 1904, and published in handsome editions in England and the United States. The volumes, portraying contemporary key figures from before World War I into the postwar era, carry on a tradition (and the “Men of Mark” title) begun at least a generation earlier.

Background

Coburn had a special affinity for seeing his work in printed form, having absorbed the credo of Alfred Stieglitz that a fine photogravure was the best expression of some images. He produced other titles of New York and London scenes; illustrated literature; and most ambitiously, collaborated with Henry James for the frontispieces of the author’s definitive collected works.

Related Resources

Bogardus, Ralph F. Pictures and texts: Henry James, A.L. Coburn, and new ways of seeing in literary culture (c1984) Studies in photography; no. 2.

Coburn, Alvin Langdon. Alvin Langdon Coburn, photographer: an autobiography; edited by Helmut and Alison Gernsheim (1978)

Collection Data

Description: Portraits taken by American-born photographer Alvin Langdon Coburn (1882-1966) primarily in England, where he moved in 1904, and published in handsome editions in England and the United States. The volumes, portraying contemporary key figures from before World War I into the postwar era, carry on a tradition (and the “Men of Mark” title) begun at least a generation earlier. Coburn had a special affinity for seeing his work in printed form, having absorbed the credo of Alfred Stieglitz that a fine photogravure was the best expression of some images. He produced other titles of New York and London scenes; illustrated literature; and most ambitiously, collaborated with Henry James for the frontispieces of the author’s definitive collected works.
Names: Coburn, Alvin Langdon, 1882-1966 (Photographer)
Dates / Origin: Date Issued: 1922; Place: New York; Publisher: Knopf
Library locations: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection; Shelf locator: MFXZ+ (Coburn) 01-9009
Topics: Portraits; Authors; Artists
Genres: Photographs; Portraits
Notes: Statement of responsibility: Alvin Langdon Coburn.
Physical Description: Photogravures; Extent: 22 p., 1 l., xxxiii mounted port. 32 cm
Type of Resource: Still image
Identifiers: RLIN/OCLC: 2883262; NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b14523042; Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 51003a90-c6dc-012f-8416-3c075448cc4b