For lovers of beautiful books, Nazraeli Press in the USA is a gold nugget. Chris Pichler in 1998, initiated a series called One Picture Book: each title is limited to 500 copies, numbered, modest in size, comprising 16 pages, and an original photo signed on the back.
The next post in this series is dedicated to Michael Kenna.
“The very moment I entered its dark and sacred enclosure, I fell in love with Notre-Dame de Paris. I walked around with wide eyes, amazed by the grandeur of its architecture and its aesthetic. I inhaled the atmosphere, the smell of incense, the whispers of the crowd; other people also experiencing these wonders in their own way. I lit candles and sat in front of the altar praying quietly, savoring the tranquility and the meditative atmosphere. I listened to the choir at vespers. It was in 1972, during my first visit to Paris…
My affection for Notre Dame has only increased over the years. Now, arriving in Paris, often early in the morning and under the effect of jet lag, I really like to take a ritual walk along the Seine to the Ile de la Cité and Notre-Dame, where I can have a solitary time. Of course, I am never alone. Notre-Dame de Paris is an extremely important religious, national and cultural monument, visited by more than twelve million people a year. Fortunately, you can always find a quiet bench there and reconnect with this captivating space. Notre-Dame continues to capture and inspire my imagination.
On Monday April 15, 2019, like countless people around the world, I was shocked and saddened to see the images, relayed by the media, of Notre-Dame in flames.
It seemed unimaginable that this architectural wonder, over eight centuries of history, memories and mystique, could be destroyed in a matter of hours. Yet this devastating fire was unfolding before our eyes.
In the days following the fire, I searched my archives to collect negatives to pay personal homage to this much loved place, which has given me so much.
The fourteen photographs in this book, most of which I have just processed for the first time, in my darkroom, were taken over a period of forty years during my various Parisian wanderings.
Come back to us quickly Notre-Dame. We miss you. I miss you.”
Michael Kenna
