Steidl
Encyclopedia
Steidl is a German-language publisher, an international publisher of photobooks, and a printing company, based in Göttingen
, Germany.
The company was started by Gerhard Steidl (b.1950). Gerhard Steidl's impetus for a career in printing came when, as a teenager, one of his photographs was used in a poster advertising a production of Brecht's Mann ist Mann
. The printing company did what the boy thought was a poor job; he suggested printing the sheet twice, the company agreed to do so in order to get rid of him, and his idea worked fairly well.
The company's first book was Befragung der Documenta (1972).
Gerhard Steidl still heads the company and indeed is in charge of the production of every book. He endeavours to follow the preferences of the particular photographer for layout, paper, and binding, and insists on working with paper, because of the importance of the feel of the book and the difference between backlighting and reflected light. Printing, binding and all other work is done within a four-storey house on Düstere Strasse in Göttingen
.
The number of titles produced by Steidl is unusually large for an art publisher: about three hundred a year.
Gerhard Steidl produces special edition
s, but prefers what he calls "'democratic books' or more 'prêt à porter' books", books that can freely be reprinted if the demand for them is sufficient.
In 2009–2010 the Musée de l'Elysée (Lausanne
) held an exhibition, The Fine Art and Craft of the Steidl Book, Lasting Impressions.
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, Germany.
The company was started by Gerhard Steidl (b.1950). Gerhard Steidl's impetus for a career in printing came when, as a teenager, one of his photographs was used in a poster advertising a production of Brecht's Mann ist Mann
Man Equals Man
Man Equals Man , or A Man's a Man, is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. One of Brecht's earlier works, it explores themes of war, human fungibility, and identity...
. The printing company did what the boy thought was a poor job; he suggested printing the sheet twice, the company agreed to do so in order to get rid of him, and his idea worked fairly well.
The company's first book was Befragung der Documenta (1972).
From 1974, [Gerhard] Steidl added political non-fiction to his program. In the early 1980s, he expanded into literature and selected art and photography books, and in 1989, he published his first paperback editions. [...] In 1996, Steidl finally decided to follow his passion for photography and to start his own internationally oriented photo book program.
Gerhard Steidl still heads the company and indeed is in charge of the production of every book. He endeavours to follow the preferences of the particular photographer for layout, paper, and binding, and insists on working with paper, because of the importance of the feel of the book and the difference between backlighting and reflected light. Printing, binding and all other work is done within a four-storey house on Düstere Strasse in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
.
The number of titles produced by Steidl is unusually large for an art publisher: about three hundred a year.
Gerhard Steidl produces special edition
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
s, but prefers what he calls "'democratic books' or more 'prêt à porter' books", books that can freely be reprinted if the demand for them is sufficient.
In 2009–2010 the Musée de l'Elysée (Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
) held an exhibition, The Fine Art and Craft of the Steidl Book, Lasting Impressions.
External links
- Steidlville, Steidl's website
- Marie-Claire Mermoud, "Gerhard Steidl: Fine art of Steidl book + Last Impressions", egodesign.ca.
- Alex Rühle on Gerhard Steidl in 032c032c032c magazine is an English-language, bi-annual contemporary culture magazine that covers art, fashion, and politics. The magazine is published in Berlin....
, Issue #17