Building Images

“Lucien Hervé (1910 - 2007), one of the great architectural photographers of the twentieth century, collaborated with Le Corbusier from 1949 until the renowned architect’s death in 1965. Hervé approached his subjects, specifically the buildings he was commissioned to document, with a particular focus on conveying a sense of space, texture, and structure. Through a strong contrast of light and shadow, Hervé defined the dialogue between substance and form as well as placing emphasis on building details. In this way the photographer was able to communicate the depth of a room, the surface of a wall, or the strength of a building’s framework.

For too long, Hervé the master of architectural photography has eclipsed Hervé the photographer, whose career began as early as 1938 and whose subject matter varied widely. Featuring more than one hundred of his photographs in every genre, the book celebrates Hervé’s work as an artist, creating images that serve not simply as records but stand as works of a singular imagination.”