Schulthess, Emil. China by Emil Schulthess.

Viking, 1966. [Another of the dozen or so large photo books, not including various editions and translations, by Swiss photographer Emil Schulthess (1913–1996), whose publications depict Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, South America, and the United States.]  Ex-library, rebound in sturdy library binding, very good thus.  Heavy book, requires more postage than most items in my store.  Summary:

China by Emil Schulthess is a monumental, mid-century photographic masterpiece and cultural survey published in 1966 (with English editions by Viking Press). The massive volume features an introduction by Han Suyin and descriptive text by Emil Egli.

It is widely celebrated as one of the most significant and visually stunning photographic records of China captured during a highly restricted era for Western journalists and artists.

Key Overview and Objectives

• Unprecedented Access: Working under the auspices of the Swiss magazine Du, Schulthess secured rare permission to travel extensively throughout the Chinese mainland in 1964, just two years before the eruption of the Cultural Revolution.

• A Balanced Visual Record: Schulthess aimed to create an objective, all-encompassing portrait of China. He deliberately balanced the country's ancient, deep-rooted cultural heritage with its rapid, mid-century transformation into a modern Communist state.

Core Themes and Visual Style

• The Geography of Contrast: The book organizes China into distinct geographic regions. It contrasts the stark, sweeping landscapes of the Gobi Desert and the vertical limestone peaks of Guilin with the bustling, densely populated streets of Shanghai, Beijing, and Canton.

• Industrialization and the Commune: Schulthess captured the human scale of the Great Leap Forward's aftermath. His photographs document massive infrastructure projects, steel mills, agricultural communes, and laborers working in mechanized harmony.

• Human Portraits: The volume is renowned for its intimate, respectful portraiture. Schulthess photographed a cross-section of Chinese society, from aging scholars and rural peasants to young Red Pioneers, factory workers, and street vendors.

• Technical Precision: Utilizing a large-format camera, Schulthess employed crisp, high-contrast black-and-white film alongside vibrant, early color photography. His signature style combines geometric architectural framing with a deep sensitivity to natural light.

Significance

China remains a critical historical document and a high watermark in the history of photojournalism. Because it captures mainland China on the cusp of radical societal upheaval, Schulthess’s book serves as a vital, peaceful time capsule of Chinese landscapes, traditions, and daily life that were permanently altered in the decades that followed.