Black Lens: Western Photographers' View of the 20th Century (Complete 6 Volumes)

Author: Huang Li
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In 1900, Freud, who was then dismissed as a heretic by the medical and psychological communities, began treating a hysterical female patient with free association in his small clinic in Vienna and published The Interpretation of Dreams the same year. At the time, this event did not cause much stir, as the front-page news in newspapers was the assassination of the Italian King. The assassin was an anarchist. Almost all European media believed that anarchism and the king's passing would become the most urgent and influential issues people needed to face in the future. Freud's work, of course, did not make it into the "Top Ten News" of the year. It would take several more decades before people would realize that what truly influenced the 20th century was not the anarchist's assassination of the king but the "dreamlike" sessions in Freud's Vienna clinic. Looking back at the century we have lived through now, it is easy to notice that many of the major events of that time have faded into oblivion in our memories, while more of the "small" and "ordinary" events during the profound changes of the past 100 years have revealed the deeper truth of history.
As the century draws to a close, people are bound to have a more sober perspective on the past and, as a result, a clearer understanding of what truly shaped this century. Only then can we move beyond rigidly focusing on the "major events" of each year to comprehend the evolution of the 20th century. We may also be able to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this century by examining the records of its countless events, both great and small.
This book collects over 1,500 photographs taken by Western photographers throughout the 100 years of the century, along with a small number of rare images from the late 19th century. Some of these photographs document the most influential events of the time, while others reveal deeper significance only years later. Many are invaluable social and historical records, capturing lifestyles and moments that can never beed. From historical, journalistic, sociological, and aesthetic perspectives, many of the photographs in this book have become classics, leaving behind a precious legacy for future generations from the photographers of this century.
Among these 1,500 photographs, we can see that the memory of this century comes from various sources: it may be a widely witnessed major event or a little-known secret; it may be war, violence, or hatred, or a manipulated photograph; it may be a group of roaring beasts, a landscape, or the expression on a face—each has, directly or indirectly, shaped the social beliefs, structures, and culture of the 20th century, shaping the world we see today.
These 1,500 photographs also provide some interesting comparisons about the history of the 20th century: for example, at the beginning of the century, the world revolved around Europe, while by the end, the United States cast a long shadow across the globe; global integration at the start of the century was built by European guns, technology, and capital, while by the end, it carried a different meaning; in China, the early 20th century was marked by images of executions, while the late 20th century was filled with the joy of reform and modernization; at the beginning of the century, Marie Curie was the epitome of womanhood, while by the end, Diana, the Princess of Wales, took her place; or, the 1990s in fashion repeated the mistakes of the 1970s and even the 1950s, yet the same outfits carried entirely different spirits.
Of course, this is not a final history of the 20th century or a comprehensive chronicle of the entire century. These photographs from the past 100 years offer an open historical space, inviting everyone to observe, compare, and discover, forming their own impressions of this century.
It is worth noting that most of the photographs in this book were taken by Western photographers, and their subjects naturally carry a certain distance from us. This distance, in a way, disrupts some of the perspectives we are accustomed to, but it can also bring inspiration and deeper reflection. Through their lenses, Western photographers vividly articulate their perceptions and thoughts about many aspects of the 20th century. For us, it is also a privilege to examine a perspective on the world.