By the 1950s, photobooks became an important form of aesthetic expression and the primary vehicle for showing work in Japan. Heightened emphasis on the photographer's personal vision led to vigorous experimentation with book design during the 1960s and 1970s. Careful attention to image layout, text, and printing techniques allowed photographers to present their works as a cohesive concept. The photobook itself was considered an original object, composed of image relationships and tonalities shaped by the photographer, designer, and printer.
Explore excerpts from three photobooks by Japanese photographers featured in Japan Modern.