William Eggleston's Guide

William Eggleston's Guide, a photobook published in 1976 to accompany Eggleston's solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, was reissued in 2002.

It features 48 photographs taken between 1969 and 1971 around Eggleston's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. The images capture ordinary scenes in color, such as people, streets, houses, cars, and everyday objects. The book also includes an essay by John Szarkowski.

In 1976, color photography was often associated with commercial and advertising photography, and its serious exhibition in museums was not yet common. This book and exhibition became a frequent reference point for considering color photography as an art form.

For the 2002 reissue, MoMA created new color separations from the original 35mm slides, reproducing the first edition's format and binding. It is known for its small, gold-embossed hardcover, a physical presence that contributes to its iconic status.

[Title] William Eggleston's Guide
[Publisher] The Museum of Modern Art, New York
[Publication Date] 2002
[Number of Pages] 112 pages
[Size] Approx. 238 x 238 x 15mm / 697g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] English
[Title Reading] William Eggleston's Guide
[Author/Editor] William Eggleston / Photographs, John Szarkowski / Essay
[ISBN] 9780870703782
[Condition] Used [7] Very Good (generally excellent)
[Accessories] -
[Featured Book] -
[Related Exhibition] William Eggleston's Guide, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1976

William Eggleston (1939–)

Born in Tennessee, USA, in 1939. Photographer.

He studied art at universities in Tennessee and Mississippi, where he encountered the photographs of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Walker Evans, among others. He initially shot in black and white but began working with color photography in the mid-1960s.

He photographed everyday scenes in color, including familiar people, houses, roads, cars, signs, and food, primarily in the American South. In 1976, he held a solo exhibition titled "William Eggleston's Guide" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, coinciding with the publication of this book.

In 1998, he received the Hasselblad Award. His major photobooks include "William Eggleston's Guide," "The Democratic Forest," "Los Alamos," and "Chromes." In Japan, "William Eggleston: Paris – Kyoto" was held at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in 2010.

< Related Figures >

John Szarkowski
Stephen Shore
Joel Meyerowitz
The Museum of Modern Art, New York