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Images courtesy of Taschen

Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered – A Good Read

Images by Julius Shulman, text by Pierluigi Serraino

Modernism: The Forgotten Archive of Julius Shulman

Another beautifully produced title on Mid century Modern architecture recently arrived in the bookstores. Published by Taschen, the publishers who, arguably, champion this era more than any other does, this title weighs in at almost…. It’s a tome alright; page after page of photographs from celebrated photographer Julius Shulman are catalogued house by house in this beautifully presented book, with a concise paragraph about each building by way of an introduction.

Julius Shulman is the legendary photographer who did more than any other photographer in the United States from the 1950s onwards to bring modernist architecture and the International Style to prominence, and created some truly iconic images in the process. If you enjoyed the photography of Julius Shulman and his portrayal of the of 1950s modernist architecture that we shown in MidCentury magazine, then Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered will be a book which you’ll want to keep referring back to.

For the uninitiated, there is an essay at the start by author Perluigi Serraino, on ‘Photography and the Emergence of American Modernism’, where he provides some background to the images, and lays out the case for the significance of the work of photographers like Julius Shulman (and the publications in which this work appeared) in creating a permanent legacy of the ambitions of this architectural movement. And we’re made all too aware that this is something for which we ought to be grateful, as so much of the mid century architecture featured within no longer exists.

Modernism: Julius Shulman photographs American architecture

Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered provides an extensive look at the less obvious, ‘forgotten archive’ of Julius Shulman, mostly consisting of images that have only appeared a few times, if at all, and many in niche publications like ‘Concrete Masonry Age’ and ‘Pacific Architect’. Julius Shulman photographed these buildings for architectural publications or for architectural practices to showcase their work, which explains why many have never been more widely published. While the more widely recognised Case Study Architects Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames and Pierre Koenig are notably absent, the lesser known architects present are more than worthy of inclusion.

The buildings featured are predominantly residential, the mix of exterior and interior shots give a real flavour of Mid century Modernism. Featured are also swimming pools, cinemas, office buildings, stadiums, and even churches, all given the Julius Shulman touch. The Squaw Valley cable car terminal in California, the angular United Covenant Church in Illinois and Kahn, Kappe and Lotery’s beautiful redwood house in Santa Monica are just a few of my favourites, where even despite the beauty of the architecture, Julius Shulman further enhances their appeal through his photographic style.

In most of the photographs of Modernist architecture in Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered, the subjects are clearly the buildings themselves. The few lifestyle shots included serve as a reminder of the era in which they were taken, so fresh do most of the buildings look. As you’d expect there’s some classic mid century furniture on view too: Hans Wegner chairs, Eames chairs, Eero Saarinen tables, Peter Hvidt day beds and some colourful Preway fireplaces are all present and correct, as well as a wealth of mid century art and collectables.

If you love American modernist architecture and mid century interiors, or you’re after some authentic inspiration from images you almost certainly won’t have seen before, then Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered is definitely worthy of a place on the bookshelf.

Julius Shulman: Modernism Rediscovered – A Good Read

Published by Taschen

ISBN: 978-3836549233

576 pages

28.1 x 22.4cm