"The photographs presented in this book, and in part selected by Steichen himself, date from 1898 to 1935, covering the extraordinary period of "artistic photography" as well as the acclaimed portraits and compositions of the Thirties of one of the leading figures in twentieth-century photography. In the essays published in this book, Paolo Costantini discusses Edward Steichen's first and crucial stay in Europe at the very beginning of the century, when he encountered European art and culture, and began to define his intellectual biography as a modern photographer. Pam Roberts situates the important Steichen section within the context of the rich collection of the Royal Photographic Society and considers the circumstances of his link with it. The book also includes a critical selection of writings by and on Edward Steichen."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved