Since the 1970s no other artistic medium has risen so rapidly in international esteem as photography. The story of its success is inseparable linked to the people who fought for its recognition
in the world of modern art - above all the artists themselves, as well as curators, collectors, gallery owners, dealers, writers, and enthusiasts. Their expense and knowledge, and their
dedication and deep passion for the medium have made photography what it is today: a widely celebrated, permanent fixture of our visual culture.
To mark its thirtieth anniversary, the Kicken Gallery has brought together these protagonists and companions in one compendium. More than 140 works in the history of photography are commented
upon by 114 authors who for the past thirty years have played a decisive role in photography's development and reception in the art world. Reproduced here are works that the gallery has helped
to place into private and museum collections across the globe. Starting with essays on outstanding photographers from Eugene Atget and Yva, to Andre Kertesz and Umbo, and on to Edward Weston
and Bernd and Hilla Becher, these personal stories from the world of photography join together to create a comprehensive history.
