Whether wild or domesticated, animals are out in force this season. When they don’t have a book dedicated specifically to them, these extended members of the family share the cover with renowned photographers such as David Yarrow, Bruce Weber, and Elliott Erwitt.
David Yarrow The Collection – Rizzoli New York
British photographer David Yarrow, famous for capturing the beauty of distant landscapes, has built a solid reputation around wildlife, sports cars, and fashion models. His retrospective work offers 368 pages of 150 of the most iconic and rare photographs of his career. Among them is the road trip series shot in the wide open spaces of America (Northern Arizona and Utah) that made John Ford’s westerns famous, where our animal friends sniff the wind alongside world-famous models.
The Connaught London Hotel, Bill Prince – Assouline
Not strictly speaking a book about our furry little friends, The Connaught London is first and foremost a luxury hotel established in the Mayfair district under this name since 1897. From the days when guests arrived by horse-drawn carriage, the establishment has retained a stairwell filled with photographs of dogs.
Cats, Walter Chandoha – Taschen
How did a former World War II photographer swap serious historical subjects for cute felines? That’s exactly what Walter Chandoha did. One winter night in 1949, he picked up an abandoned kitten, and that was the beginning of a lifelong passion. Cats Photographs 1942-2018 features 300 of these 90,000 photographs, the fruit of 50 years of experience. Far from limiting himself to felines, Walter Chandoha has also devoted a similar book to canines.
Chic Dogs, Robert Williams – Assouline
Throughout the centuries, aristocrats and influential figures have loved to parade with their canine companions, who have become an extension of their elegance and personality. This richly illustrated book, featuring famous paintings, Hollywood stars, and historical and even archaeological pieces, puts into perspective the privileged place of these four-legged best friends. Throughout its 234 pages, the book unfolds more or less well-known representations of Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill, Maria Callas, Gabrielle Chanel, and Sarah Bernhardt.
DogDogs – Elliott Erwitt – Phaidon
American photojournalist and member of the legendary Magnum agency, Elliott Erwitt has not only immortalized human portraits, but has also taken an interest in the intimate bond between his contemporaries and their pets. The master’s largest collection of canines, DogDogs is a sincere and original tribute to man’s best friend, highlighting some of the eccentricities that make these companions so endearing. Full of wisdom and tenderness, these 500 animal portraits beautifully capture the entire spectrum of emotions, from anxiety to patience to joy. Elliott Erwitt even pays tribute to his colleague Philippe Halsman, known for his photographs of celebrities jumping.
The Great Book of Birds – Jean-Jacques Audubon – Citadelles & Mazenod
Unless you are a Parisian who panics at the slightest flutter of wings in a Hitchcockian perception of the lack of hygiene of these feathered creatures, birds never cease to fascinate with their plumage and the extent of their variety. Born in 1785, Jean-Jacques Audubon produced nearly 400 plates that have become references in ornithological publishing. The book presents a vibrant tribute, as spectacular as it is moving, to the birds present on American soil in the 19th century, including species that are now extinct, such as the dodo and the passenger pigeon.
Animals by Steve McCurry – Taschen
Reissued in 2022, Animals by photographer and journalist Steve McCurry is a book offering a multitude of photographs that teach us a lesson in humanity. A skilled explorer of the complex relationship between animals, humans, and the environment, this great witness to the wild delivers a kaleidoscopic collection of his favorite photographs. Whether featuring elephants, baboons, or horses, he invites readers on a tour of the animal world from Asia to the Caribbean, via Europe and the United States.
Read also > Discover Château Poochie, a luxury resort for dogs
Featured photo: Cover of David Yarrow’s book The Collection, published by Rizzoli New York; David Yarrow, Ferrari II (in color), 2023
