Éditions Delpire & Co has announced the publication of Robert Frank's "Mary's Book," a deeply personal and historically significant work that marks a pivotal moment in the legendary photographer's career. The book, set for release on September 18, 2025, will feature the first-ever facsimile reproduction of Frank's original handmade chronicle, offering unprecedented insight into the artist's formative years in post-war Paris.
Robert Frank, widely celebrated for his groundbreaking book "The Americans" (originally published by Delpire in 1958), began his artistic journey amid the vibrant cultural scene of post-war Paris. His stays in the French capital between 1949 and 1953 profoundly influenced both his personal life and artistic vision. It was during this transformative period in 1949 that Frank created "Mary's Book," an intimate visual diary documenting Parisian life intended for his fiancée who remained in the United States.
The original work represents a unique artistic achievement, consisting of several sheets nested within each other and combining cut-and-pasted photographs with handwritten text in a mixture of French and English. This innovative approach to combining visual and written narratives would become Frank's signature style, establishing the foundation for his distinctive photo book practice that would influence all his subsequent publications.
"Mary's Book" holds dual significance as both a crucial personal milestone in Frank's life and the birth of his revolutionary approach to photo book creation. The way he arranged images on the page, integrating them with personal text and creating a flowing narrative, became a hallmark technique that would define his entire body of work. This method of visual storytelling helped establish Frank as one of the most influential photographers and book makers of the 20th century.
The new publication features scholarly contributions from photography historian Stuart Alexander and Kristen Gresh, a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Their texts pay tribute to Frank's artistic journey and creative process, providing valuable context for understanding this seminal work. The book measures 23.5 x 32.5 cm and spans 136 pages, with an additional 24-page insert containing the facsimile reproduction.
This French-language publication (ISBN 9791095821816) represents the first time "Mary's Book" has been made available in facsimile form, allowing readers to experience Frank's original handmade creation as closely as possible to how it appeared when first created over seven decades ago. The release offers an unprecedented glimpse into the personal life and artistic development of one of photography's most influential figures.
