Evidence

Evidence is a photography book published in 1977 featuring found photographs collected from government, scientific, technical and industrial archives. The black and white images were selected from over two million photographs viewed by Sultan and Mandel during visits to more than 100 institutional archives across America. The photographs document experiments, tests, and research activities spanning the 1950s through 1970s, originally created as evidence or documentation by engineers, scientists, and technicians. Removed from their original explanatory captions and context, the images are presented in a sequence determined by the artists. The book presents an alternative view of post-war American progress and technological advancement through its appropriation and recontextualization of institutional photography. By stripping away the original purpose and meaning of these documentary images, Evidence creates new connections and narratives while questioning ideas of photographic truth and authority.

Readers find the book challenges assumptions about photographic meaning and context. The black and white found photos, removed from their original scientific/industrial settings, take on surreal and humorous qualities when presented without captions. What readers liked: - Creative repurposing of technical/archival images - Questions how context shapes interpretation - Quality of printing and reproduction - Historical value as an influential photobook What readers disliked: - High price point of recent editions - Some find it repetitive without context - Can feel dated compared to contemporary found photography books Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (12 reviews) Notable reader comment from Amazon: "The images work on multiple levels - as documentation, as surreal art, as social commentary. Each viewing reveals new connections." Limited review data exists since the book had small print runs and many readers accessed it through libraries.

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📚 The book "Evidence" was originally published in 1977 and consisted entirely of found photographs from industrial and government archives, completely removed from their original context 🏆 The Museum of Modern Art recognized "Evidence" as a pioneering work of conceptual photography, acquiring it for their permanent collection in 1978 📷 Sultan and Mandel spent three years visiting more than 100 government agencies, educational institutions, and corporations, sifting through nearly 2 million photographs to select the final 59 images 🎨 The images were deliberately presented without captions or explanations, forcing viewers to create their own narratives and meanings from the mysterious technical and industrial photographs 🔄 The 2017 reissue of "Evidence" included a new essay by Sandra S. Phillips, suggesting the book's influence on contemporary photography has only grown stronger over time, as questions of context and truth in photography become increasingly relevant