the art collectors

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Taschen Commemorates Julius Shulman

Julius Shulman – Pierre Koenig, Case Study House #22, from  Taschen’s Shulman Portfolio (1999). Image: Taschen

After the passing of Julius Shulman last month, art book publisher, Benedikt Taschen, has published a fitting homage to the hugely influential photographer of Modernist architecture on the Taschen website:

“Julius Shulman was one of the greatest photographers and image makers of the 20th century. Even in a biblical age he was an inspiration for generations of admirers, fans and friends. His house was open for everyone and thousands of pilgrims from all over the world came to see him, the man who created the visual memory of Modernism. He was a generous, kind and caring human being with a memory sharp as the latest generation of computers, recalling every trip he made and every photograph he took. I loved this man and I was blessed to have him as my friend and as a TASCHEN artist.”

Julius Shulman – Richard Nuetra, Singleton House, from  Taschen’s Shulman Portfolio (1999). Image: Taschen

Shulman and Taschen’s friendship shines through in this video at the photographer’s Los Angeles home. With the artist now gone, perhaps the best way to remember him is through Taschen’s several invaluable publications, beginning with the now out of print Julius Shulman: Architecture and Its Photography (1998) and continuing with Modernism Rediscovered (2000), which was later expanded to the definitive 2007 three-volume edition. Continuing his commitment to the artist, in 1999 Taschen released a limited edition portfolio set, comprised of 12 different limited edition framed prints, each in an edition of 60, numbered, titled and signed by Shulman. While some are still available on the Taschen site, expect to see a spark in interest.

In 1998 Shulman received a lifetime achievement award from the International Center of Photography in New York. He died on July 15, 2009 at the age of 98.