Over the years, I’ve been intrigued by the renowned photographer Mary Ellen Bartley’s use of books and libraries in her work. Bartley is known for her photographs exploring the tactile and formal qualities of the printed book, and its potential for abstraction. By emphasizing the materiality of printed matter, Bartley’s work offers an exploration of textural and tactile properties. The other day I stumbled on a fascinating video of a project of her’s that focused on the household library and book collections at the famous Grey Gardens estate in New York. Check out the short film below.
