Montreal Photo Album : Photographs from Montreal Archives

Rating:
Summary: Montreal Through The Eyes Of A Photograph
Review: We have all heard the expression " a picture is worth a thousand words" and Véhicule Press's publication of Montreal Photo Album: Photographs from Montreal Archives edited by Nancy Marrelli very aptly accomplishes this feat.

The book originally served as a catalogue for a 1992 exhibition curated by Nancy Marrelli, who at the time was Director of Archives of Concordia University.
Various Montreal archives at institutions submitted photos and unfortunately only some were chosen.

The accepted photos were chosen based on their historical interest, quality, aesthetic considerations, and contributions to the overall view of Montreal.
Nancy Marrelli states in the introduction of the book that there seemed to be a lack of single focal point. However, as she goes on to assert, this lack of a single focal point turned out to be the most charming asset of this collection of photos.

A study of the history of Montreal would be incomplete if you could not see actual scenes and moments in history through the eyes of the photographer.
For example there is a beautiful photo of a streetcar scene on Rue St Jacques taken in the year 1907.
We see the streetcar as well as the passengers embarking. The clothes they were wearing at the time. We also notice the cobble street.
What can be more informative than looking at this sight and living vicariously in Montreal in the year 1907?

Another scene photographed in 1921 shows a view from Rue St Jacques towards the east and recalls the activity in Montréal's financial district in the 1920s.
Montreal at the time was the centre of finance and commerce in Canada and most of the buildings shown are still in existence.

There is a fascinating picture of the Bonsecours Market taken in the year 1908 where we see the horses lined up and the women with their long dresses strolling and checking out the produce.

To the Montrealer the book will serve as a reminder of a Montreal that was but not forgotten. In fact when native Montrealers view some of these photos they may even comment to themselves "hey that's my neighbourhood!" "I can't believe Rue St Jacques looked that way in 1908."

Even if you are a visitor to Montreal you can still be captivated and drawn to these photos as if you were part of the Montreal family.

This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site: www.bookpleasures.com

Rating:
Summary: Montreal Through The Eyes Of A Photograph
Review: We have all heard the expression " a picture is worth a thousand words" and Véhicule Press's publication of Montreal Photo Album: Photographs from Montreal Archives edited by Nancy Marrelli very aptly accomplishes this feat.

The book originally served as a catalogue for a 1992 exhibition curated by Nancy Marrelli, who at the time was Director of Archives of Concordia University.
Various Montreal archives at institutions submitted photos and unfortunately only some were chosen.

The accepted photos were chosen based on their historical interest, quality, aesthetic considerations, and contributions to the overall view of Montreal.
Nancy Marrelli states in the introduction of the book that there seemed to be a lack of single focal point. However, as she goes on to assert, this lack of a single focal point turned out to be the most charming asset of this collection of photos.

A study of the history of Montreal would be incomplete if you could not see actual scenes and moments in history through the eyes of the photographer.
For example there is a beautiful photo of a streetcar scene on Rue St Jacques taken in the year 1907.
We see the streetcar as well as the passengers embarking. The clothes they were wearing at the time. We also notice the cobble street.
What can be more informative than looking at this sight and living vicariously in Montreal in the year 1907?

Another scene photographed in 1921 shows a view from Rue St Jacques towards the east and recalls the activity in Montréal's financial district in the 1920s.
Montreal at the time was the centre of finance and commerce in Canada and most of the buildings shown are still in existence.

There is a fascinating picture of the Bonsecours Market taken in the year 1908 where we see the horses lined up and the women with their long dresses strolling and checking out the produce.

To the Montrealer the book will serve as a reminder of a Montreal that was but not forgotten. In fact when native Montrealers view some of these photos they may even comment to themselves "hey that's my neighbourhood!" "I can't believe Rue St Jacques looked that way in 1908."

Even if you are a visitor to Montreal you can still be captivated and drawn to these photos as if you were part of the Montreal family.

This review first appeared on the reviewer's own site: www.bookpleasures.com