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. Copublished by Aperture and the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson

Joseph Beuys was photographed extensively during his life, whether at work, while travelling, or at home. But only a few photographers had the privileged access and tenacity of Klaus Staeck and Gerhard Steidl. Graphic artist Staeck and printer/publisher Steidl accompanied Beuys with their cameras from 1970 until his death in 1986. Staeck and Steidl were part of Beuys entourage, worked closely with him to produce his multiples and objects, and documented intimate aspects of the life of this unmatched artist-performer. These photos reveal Beuys unique charismatic personality that influenced not only those he met, but society and art in general. Born in 1938 in Pulsnitz near Dresden, Klaus Staeck is one of Germanys most prominent graphic artists. Renowned for his political posters, Staeck has been president of the Akademie der Kunste in Berlin since 2006. Steidl has produced Staecks posters throughout his career and has published many of his books including Ohne Auftrag (2001), Pornografie (2005) and Schone Aussichten (2009). Gerhard Steidl was born in 1950 in Gottingen, Germany, where he continues to live and work. Steidl received his informal printing training from Klaus Staeck and Joseph Beuys, and in 1972, the first Steidl book Befragung der Documenta was published. Since the mid-1980s, Steidl has published literature including the work of Nobel laureates Gunter Grass and Halldor Laxness. In 1996, Steidl founded an international photography book programme.