Strand, Paul. Rebecca. Photographs by Paul Strand.

NY: Robert Miller Gallery, 1996. [Strand's platinum print photographs of his first wife, Rebecca Salsbury, done in a similar way to Stieglitz' extended series on his wife,  George O'Keeffe. Excellent reproduction quality on heavy weight matte paper. With quotations from the writings of Strand and a chronology of his life.  Stiff wraps, with illustrated dust jacket. In new condition.  Summary:

Rebecca: Photographs by Paul Strand, published by the Robert Miller Gallery in 1996, is an intimate, specialized exhibition catalog produced to document a landmark presentation of early American modernism. The publication compiles a definitive sequence of portraits Strand made of his first wife, Rebecca Salsbury, between 1920 and 1932.

Key Elements of the Work

• The Serial Portrait Concept: The core of the volume tracks Strand’s departure from strict, objective street photography into an intensely subjective, long-term study of a single individual. The collection captures changing emotional states, physical maturity, and the evolving marital dynamic over a twelve-year span.

• The Stieglitz Influence: The publication explicitly frames the work as an act of homage to and dialogue with Alfred Stieglitz. It draws direct thematic parallels to Stieglitz's celebrated composite portrait of Georgia O'Keeffe, showcasing how both photographers pioneered the idea of a spouse serving as an ongoing artistic muse.

• Technical and Formal Innovation: The catalog highlights Strand’s masterly handling of large-format cameras and complex printing processes. It features tightly cropped, diagonally framed, and tightly focused images that capture fine textures—such as skin, fabric, and bedding—moving away from traditional studio portraiture to achieve a striking modern immediacy.

Narrative Intent

The volume functions as a deep exploration of the boundary between public art and private life. By preserving a series of images that were rarely exhibited during Strand's lifetime, the publication illustrates how a master of "straight photography" successfully balanced formal geometric precision with intense emotional vulnerability and psychological depth.