WRONECKI (Daniel). - Lot 302

WRONECKI (Daniel). New York. Paris: Fernand Nathan, “Merveilles de la France et du Monde” series, [circa 1935]. Quarto, publisher’s binding with a photographic dust jacket. A beautiful photographic album devoted to New York, created by French photographer Daniel Wronecki (1902–1982), one of the first European photographers to have captured the verticality and dynamism of the American metropolis on such a grand scale during the interwar period. Published in the “Wonders of France and the World” collection by Fernand Nathan, the book brings together numerous heliogravure prints showcasing the city’s major landmarks: the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Manhattan’s skyscrapers, bridges, avenues, business districts, harbors, and street scenes. More than just an illustrated guide, it serves as a true photographic testament to New York’s emergence as the world capital of architectural modernity. Wronecki’s vision, influenced by the European “Nouvelle Vision,” emphasizes spectacular low-angle shots, dizzying perspectives, and the graphic interplay of building facades, placing this work among the most elegant French photographic publications dedicated to the United States prior to World War II. Complete copies in their fragile illustrated dust jacket have become rare. Condition: A good copy. The dust jacket has a few small tears and minor wear, particularly at the top of the spine, but nothing serious.