Book Review: Distinctly American: The Photography of Wright Morris

A quiet and compelling Wrightness

The eighty wonderful photos in this book cover sixteen years from 1934 when Morris made several trips across America. He sought out the commonplace everywhere, though most of the photos here are from his beloved Midwest and mostly exteriors of weather-beaten buildings. They all have a stillness about them, helped by the straightforward way Morris arranged the shots, there are no crazy angles, soft focus or wastage.

All the photos are beautiful compositions and in the case of the buildings they are shot face on to show textured wood and the almost abstract shapes that a roof, chimney or porch creates when a shadow falls across them. The interior photos are of rooms and close-ups, a dresser draw or a kitchen table with household bric-a-brac. None of the pictures include people (except for 'Uncle Harry entering a barn' on page 113) and this might put some viewers off but Morris wanted to use the images and combined them with his writing in 'photo-text' books like 'The Inhabitants' (1946) or 'Home Place' (1948).

I think this book, beautifully printed and designed, is an excellent reminder of a visual poet who was distinctly American.

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