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Since the late 1950s, leading photographer David Hurn has taken photographs of people engaged in the act of reading.  He has captured moments of repose and absorption in cafes and bars, at dog shows and railway stations, strip clubs, museums, the seaside, film sets, parks and streets. This 64 page hardback book—On Reading—brings together these images for the first time and is 40 years in the making and is accompanied by a signed 6" x 4" print of 'SWEDEN. Simrishamn. 2006' by David Hurn.  This book measures 20.4cm x 15.5cm and print are both in excellent condition. 

"In September 1983 I was invited together with 99 other photographers from all over the world, for a midnight-to-midnight 24 hour vigil to photograph London. The result was the book ‘A Day in the Life London’.Among those guests arriving was one of my photographic hero’s, André Kertész.

Kertész was 89 years of age. I suggested that I look after him and that he should concentrate on photographing in Hyde Park. I met up with him for breakfast in a hotel in South Kensington. I told him that one of my favourite books was his, small in size, ‘On Reading’, first published in 1971 - Kertész’s father was a bookseller - after much chatting and laughing, I suggested, that if he gave his permission, I would re-do the book when I was 89. He gave his permission. This is the result. " - David Hurn

The photographs in On Reading  were made across the world—from Hurn’s home country of Wales to across much of Europe to as far afield as Qatar, the US and New Zealand. Many were made whilst on assignment, including a photograph of The Beatles on the set of A Hard Days Night, another at Queen Charlotte’s debutante Ball in London and several at Hay Festivals over the years—but many others were also made as Hurn went about his daily life. The reading material may have changed from books and magazines to mobile phones, but the joy and power of reading remains a constant across the nearly 70 years of photographs contained in the book. 

Born in the UK, but of Welsh descent, David Hurn is a self-taught photographer who began his career in 1955 as an assistant at the Reflex Agency. Whilst a freelance photographer, he gained his early reputation with his reportage of the 1956 Hungarian revolution. Hurn later turned away from coverage of current affairs preferring to take a more personal approach to photography for which he has become renowned with numerous exhibitions and publications around the world. He became an associate member of Magnum in 1965 and a full member in 1967.

The book ships from the United Kingdom so the buyer is responsible for any applicable import duties or fees.

Photography - Quantity: 1 - Dust jacket, Signed by author - Photo book

David Hurn - On Reading - Signed First Edition with Print - 2024

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This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

David Hurn - On Reading - Signed First Edition with Print - 2024

Popular in Art & Photography Books

1547 objects

Related collections