Eva Neurath
For me the essence of Edwin Smith's photographic work is the humanity which emanates from all his pictures. Houses, street scenes, sculpture - they are always chosen lovingly and seem, so magically, working in his landscapes, in some way to be projections of an inner image, rather than records. There is a quality in his photographs, a combination of rhythm, harmony and tonal values, which makes them resound in one's memory.
Working with him on his books was a joy, though the necessity to be selective could be painful. He took hundreds of pictures, which we spread on the floor, and had to choose from them the 100 or 150 which would be contained in our final book. It often seemed impossible to dispense with any of them ; but Olive brought to this task her scholarly approach, which helped us to discipline ourselves, so that a meaningful and vivid portrait of the subject at last emerged.
"English Parish Churches" was the first of his books Thames and Hudson published (in 1954) and in 1957 two further books appeared, "English Cottages and Farmhouses" and "England". They had a great international success, and many more followed in the course of the years.
Olive accompanied Edwin on many of his travels and her knowledge and her enthusiasm were indispensable to him. Edwin was both a painter and a trained architect, and his knowing eye, his warm sense of humour, his deep romantic attachment were the creative forces which gave his photographs their unique personality, their expressive sparkle and what I can only call their eternal quality.
From the catalogue produced
to accompany the exhibition
'Aspects of the Art of Edwin Smith' at The
Minories,
Colchester in 1974.
Eva Neurath was one of the founders of Thames & Hudson.
