gorgeous edition by Taschen of a fantastic photographer. it's a selection of his work from various books; you'll still want the books themselves. but these are large, crisp renditions of a surprisingly formal photographer who made art, not just records, with his camera. in which light and shadow, fog, pattern and formal line, had weight and character, and something to say. at the same time, Brassai painted the ordinary life of the city, including the underground; the subjects are in collusion with the camera, looking boldly out into the future with complete self-possession and a modernity of spirit. here nothing is forbidden, or even framed as exotic, the transgressive taking pride of place beside historic facades and character studies filmed on the stairs, ephemera of the night on the iconic streets of the eternal city. ( )

beautiful book ( )