FUKASE, Masahisa. The Solitude of Ravens.

(San Francisco, CA): Bedford Arts, Publishers Inc, 1991.  First US edition.  Softcover.  25.8cm by 25.9cm.  130 pages.  Introductory note by David Travis and an afterword by Akira Hasegawa. Originally published in Japan in 1986 under the title Karasu, The Solitude of Ravens is widely regarded as one of the most important photobooks of the 20th century. This haunting series was created between 1975 and 1986, following Fukase’s divorce from his wife, Yōko Wanibe. The photographs, primarily taken in Hokkaido, depict ravens in various settings—perched, in flight, and amidst stark landscapes—serving as metaphors for solitude and loss. The work is noted for its dark, impressionistic style, capturing the ravens with grainy textures and high-contrast imagery that evoke a sense of melancholy and introspection. The series has been interpreted as an allegory for postwar Japan and a reflection of the photographer’s own emotional state.  A very good copy, ink name at edge of title-page, in photo-illustrated wrappers with integral flaps.  Our favourite photobook.