Julius Shulman: Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960
Photo Credit: PleasurePhoto

Julius Shulman was a renowned American architectural photographer whose career spanned nearly seven decades. He is best known for his impeccable images of mid-century modern architecture, especially in Southern California. His photographs significantly contributed to promoting and communicating the works of modernist architects. He is perhaps most celebrated for his images of the Stahl House, designed by the esteemed architect Pierre Koenig, commonly referred to as the Case Study House #22.

For today’s brief showcase, we’re presenting two images from this series. The first is a monochrome depiction featuring two young ladies – blonde, carefree, and adorned in white party dresses – leisurely positioned amidst chic furnishings. The contrasting colour image retains the same angular composition but highlights a lone man peeking from a sliding door. Shulman captured these moments on a warm evening in May 1960, just after sunset, encapsulating subjects in the brightly illuminated, modernist interior of Koenig’s masterpiece. This juxtaposes beautifully against the radiant lights of the Los Angeles skyline. The complexity of these multi-exposure shots, further refined in the darkroom, enhances their photographic brilliance. These compelling images epitomise Shulman’s approach: to encapsulate not just structures, but the zeitgeist, blending architecture with its environment and human interaction

Which image resonates more with you: the colour or the black and white? Why? Share your thoughts!

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