Ralph Gibson is a photographer, but not just a photographer. This selection of books reveals his passions for literature, music, poetry and typography, as well as his many sources of inspiration from film and painting.
His selection includes standout exhibition catalogs such as Giorgio Morandi: Late Painting (David Zwirner), Picasso Guitars 1912-1914 (Museum of Modern Art), as well as essays like Image, text, music by Roland Barthes (Fontana Press) or Giacometti Portrait by James Lord (Gallimard). The collection also pays tribute to Gibson’s lifelong love of cinema, with titles like Directs by Ingmar Bergman (David Poynter) and Notes sur le cinématographe by Robert Bresson. Cinema has indeed always been a central influence on Gibson’s work—his father, an assistant director to Alfred Hitchcock, often took him to film sets as a child. In addition, Gibson’s personal connection to France is reflected in a few key works by French literary giants such as Charles Baudelaire, Marcel Proust, and Marguerite Duras.
This curated selection encompasses novels, poetry, exhibition catalogs, and books on painting, photography, cinema, and typography—offering a rich, eclectic mix that mirrors the breadth of Ralph Gibson’s distinguished career. With prices ranging from €5.70 to €395, the selection is the Bigaignon Gallery in Paris and on a dedicated website.
Blind invites you to take a look at the books that have inspired the photographer and nurtured his work and photography since the early 1960s.
Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot, 2019, Faber & Faber
Four Quartets brings together four poems by playwright and poet T.S. Eliot, written over a six-year period between 1936 and 1942. Burnt Norton, East Coker, The Dry Salvages, and Little Gidding explore humanity’s relationship with time, the universe, and the divine.
The Decisive Moment, Henri Cartier-Bresson, 2024, Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
The Decisive Moment brings together the photographic work from the first twenty years of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s career, making it an essential work in the world of art. It reveals the inherent duality of the artist’s work, balancing intimate interpretation and documentary observation.
Nightwood, Djuna Barnes, 2022, Points
Nightwood tells the story of Robin Vote, a mysterious woman, and her complex relationships with Felix and Nora, exploring themes of unrequited love and loneliness. Its dense style makes it a major modernist work.
Perspectives of Nudes, Bill Brandt, 1965, Editions Prisma
Perspectives of Nudes by Bill Brandt is a collection of black-and-white photographs showcasing the human form from various angles, emphasizing light, shadow, and shape. The book delves into the art of nude photography, blending aesthetics and emotion with a deep focus on the beauty of the human body.
Concrete poetry, a world view, Mary Ellen Solt, 1970, Indiana University Press
Concrete Poetry: A World View, edited by Mary Ellen Solt, is an anthology exploring concrete poetry worldwide. It includes manifestos, artist biographies, and illustrative examples of the movement.
Ulysses, James Joyces, 2022, Folio classique
Ulysses by James Joyce follows a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin. The novel explores themes like personal quest and the human condition, using innovative literary techniques.
Fertile image, Paul Nash, 1975, Faber & Faber
Fertile Image by Paul Nash is a collection of 64 black-and-white photographs with notes by the artist. It explores the transformation of nature and everyday objects into art, reflecting his surrealist approach.
Last Year at Marienbad, Alain Robbe-Grillet, 2018, Les éditions de minuit
Last Year at Marienbad by Alain Robbe-Grillet tells the story of a man trying to convince a woman they met the previous year, but she has no memory of it. The novel explores memory, time, and the subjective perception of reality.
Blow-up and other stories, Julio Cortazar, 2013, Pantheon books
Blow-up and other stories by Julio Cortázar is a collection of tales exploring the boundaries between the everyday and the mysterious, with supernatural elements or altered perceptions of reality. The story “Blow-Up” inspired Michelangelo Antonioni’s film.
The Nude, Kenneth Clark, 1956, Doubleday anchor book
The Nude by Kenneth Clark analyzes the representation of the human nude in Western art, from ancient Greece to Picasso, distinguishing the idealized “nude” from the everyday exposure of the body.
Asymmetric typography, Jan Tschichold, 1967, Faber & fabe
Asymmetric Typography by Jan Tschichold is a study on the application of asymmetric typography in modern printing processes. The author explores new layout techniques, moving away from traditional principles.
Directs, Ingmar Bergman, 1973, Davis Poynter
Ingmar Bergman Directs by John Simon explores the career of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. It includes an exclusive interview and photos, offering insight into his creative process and major films.
Notes on the Cinematograph, Robert Bresson, 2023, Folio
Notes on the Cinematograph by Robert Bresson is a collection of thoughts and observations on cinema. The author presents his unique vision of the cinematograph, distinguishing it from mere “cinema,” emphasizing rigor, simplicity, and minimal expression in the art of filmmaking.
Giorgio Morandi: Late Painting, 2023, David Zwirner
This publication accompanies an exhibition presented in 2015 at the David Zwirner Gallery. It focuses on the period from 1948 to 1964, during which Morandi developed his exploration of series, reductions, and the play of form and composition.
In Praise of Shadows, Junichiro Tanizaki
In Praise of Shadows by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki is an essay on the beauty of shadows and the subtlety of Japanese aesthetics. The author compares Eastern and Western approaches to light and explores how shadows enrich Japanese culture.
Image, text, music, Roland Barthes, 1977, Fontana Press
Image-Music-Text is a collection of essays by Roland Barthes that explores the relationship between image, music, and text. Barthes analyzes how these forms convey meaning and influence perception, highlighting the underlying structures and codes that govern these media.
Dialogue with Marcel Duchamp, Pierre Cabane, 1971
Dialogue with Marcel Duchamp is a 1971 collection of interviews between Pierre Cabanne and Duchamp. The artist discusses his life, work, the Dada movement, “ready-mades,” and his view of art, providing fresh insights into his influence in the art world.
A Giacometti Portrait, James Lord, 2023, Gallimard
A Giacometti Portrait by James Lord recounts the eighteen portrait sittings with Alberto Giacometti in 1964. The book explores the artist’s creative process, his hesitations, and their friendship.
Les fleurs du mal, Charles Baudelaire, 1981, Presses Pocket
Les Fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire is a collection of poems exploring themes of desire, suffering, and corruption, while depicting the duality of the human soul and the darker aspects of society.
The element of typographic style, Robert Bringhurst, 1996, Hartley & Marks Inc
The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst is a key work on typography, covering history, design principles, and layout, while exploring the aesthetic and functional aspects of typography.
Picasso: Guitars 1912–1914, Anne Umland, 2011, Museum of Modern Art
Picasso: Guitars 1912–1914 by Anne Umland explores Picasso’s guitar sculptures created between 1912 and 1914. The book analyzes their impact on modern art and unveils new insights into the artist’s creative process.
Tristes tropiques, Claude Lévi-Strauss, 1993, Plon
Tristes Tropiques by Claude Lévi-Strauss recounts his explorations in Brazil and encounters with indigenous tribes, while reflecting on culture, civilization, and human nature. A key work in anthropology.
Du côté de chez Swann, Marcel Proust, 2024, Flammarion
Through the evocation of countless moments—by turns delightful, humiliating, erotic, and disappointing—Proust invites us to partake in his reflections and imagination, centered around the story of the love affair between a wealthy collector and a courtesan.
All the books selected by Ralph Gibson are on sale on the Galerie Bigaignon website or in its Paris bookshop.
