PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A landmark survey of one of the most significant American photographers of the twentieth century. Best known for his intimate portrayals of barrio communities of the Southwest United States, Louis Carlos Bernal made photographs in the late 1970s and 1980s that draw upon the resonance of Catholicism, Indigenous beliefs, and popular practices tied to the land. For Bernal, photography was a potent tool in affirming the value of individuals and communities who lacked visibility and agency. Working in both black and white and in color, he photographed the interiors of homes and their inhabitants, often presenting his subjects surrounded by the objects they lived with—framed portraits of family members, religious pictures and statuaries, small shrines festooned with flowers, and elements of contemporary popular culture. Bernal viewed these spaces as rich with personal, cultural, and spiritual meaning, and his unforgettable photographs express a vision of la vida cotidiana—everyday life—as a state of grace. The first major scholarly account of Bernal’s life and work by the esteemed historian Elizabeth Ferrer, Louis Carlos Bernal: Monografía is the definitive book about an essential photographic artist.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 8.7 x 10.7

Number of Pages: 220

Binding Method:

Paper:

Typefaces:

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director:

Art Director:

Book Designer: Duncan Whyte

Jacket/Cover Designer: Duncan Whyte

Illustrator:

Photographer:

Picture Editor:

Production Director: Minjee Cho

Production Coordinator: Production Manager: Andrea Chlad

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Brendan Embser- Managing Editor; Noa Lin-Assistant Editor; Susan Ciccotti- Senior Text Editor; Claire Voon- Copy Editor; Elianna Kan, Isla Ng- Proofreaders; Elianna Kan, Enrique Pérez Resiles- Translations

Return to the Gallery