Raghubir Singh – Modernism on the Ganges

In the New York Times, critic Teju Cole offered this appreciation of the work of Indian–born photographer Raghubir Singh (1942—1999): "Singh gives us photographs charged with life: not only beautiful experiences or painful scenes but also those in–between moments of drift that make up most of our days."

This richly illustrated volume, the first in–depth study of Singh's work, situates it at the intersection of Western modernism and traditional South Asian modes of picturing the world.

A major practitioner of color street photography, Singh captured images that demonstrate the diverse culture of India. Raghubir Singh features over 100 of his photographs—in counterpoint with the work of such influences as Henri Cartier–Bresson and Lee Friedlander and with images of traditional South Asian artworks that inspired his practice—providing an extensive overview of the artist's career. With its vibrant plates and insightful essays, this publication brilliantly illustrates Cole's assessment that Singh's work draws "breathtaking coherence out of the chaos of the everyday."

Raghubir Singh (1942–1999) was a pioneer of color street photography who worked and published prolifically from the late 1960s until his death in 1999 at age 56. His vivid, intensely hued photographs capture rural and urban India and iconic depictions of Indian culture though a truly cosmopolitan approach that succeeded in blending East and West. This richly illustrated volume studies in depth the full breadth of Singh’s work, situating it at the intersection of Western modernism and traditional South Asian modes of picturing the world. The book showcases 90 of his photographs, including some previously unpublished images, in counterpoint both with the work of his contemporaries and with images of traditional South Asian artworks that inspired his practice.

Mia Fineman is associate curator in the Department of Photographs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Amit Chaudhuri is an award-winning novelist and critic. Shanay Jhaveri is assistant curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Partha Mitter is an independent author and historian and emeritus professor of art history at the University of Sussex.