REVIEW: THIS LAND – COWBOYS AND THE LANDSCAPE OF THE AMERICAN WEST BY PETER BYRNE
17 year old Marta Trivellato is studying History of Art and Fashion Design at G.B. Ferrari – A. Corradini in Italy, and is currently on a placement with Open Eye Gallery. Marta reviews one of the newest books in our independent gallery shop; This Land by Peter Byrne.
The Old Wild West. It’s been a long time since then; nowadays those years are only legend, a memory far away in the past for most people, but not for all. The Photographer Peter Byrne recently published an intriguing book about the tradition that is still very much alive today.
The book tells the story of 21st Century cowboys, men that are continuing the tradition, working in the same place and in the same way as their ancestors. More specifically, the author focuses his attention on the connection between cowboys, nature and the changing climate through a sequence of landscapes and candid shots from the cowboys’ everyday life. Byrne, here, describes the inspiration behind his concept:
“I am captivated by the desolation of deserts and mountains and their relationship with the loneliness and solitude of the cowboy… how the ever-changing landscape can shape the temperament and personality of the cowboys, creating a unique bond, built on knowledge, respect and appreciation of the land.”
One of the most interesting features of the book is the contrast between images of strikingly beautiful landscapes and the representation of the difficult and hard life of a cowboy. When you see the beautiful landscapes of the American West you wish to go there and to share the experiences that these people face with the belief that everything must be easy and relaxed, but this may not be the case.
As it is portrayed in the book, the landscape can hide lots of dangers such as terrible weather conditions and hard labour; it shows what it really takes to be a true cowboy.
You can find this book in our independent gallery shop for £30.
