Revue suisse de photographie 1902

Here we have Rodolphe Archibald Reiss' "Revue suisse de photographie", a book made in 1902. It's the kind of understated cover design you might easily overlook. But lean in close and you'll see the material aspects of the book: the texture of the aging paper, the subtle fading of the printed text, and the almost ghostly quality of the title page. It's really interesting how the simple act of printing – the pressure of the type against the page – leaves this physical trace. There's a quiet dignity in the muted palette and the orderly arrangement of text. Look at that small mark on the left page, it’s so slight, yet so present. It speaks to the vulnerability of the object, and how even the smallest imperfection can add to the story. For me it's like a Robert Ryman painting, where the supposed lack of visual information invites you to consider the materiality of the art object itself.