Magnum Magnum, Portrait of Magnum at Its 60th Anniversary

The publication of MAGNUM MAGNUM marked 60 years of Magnum’s history. Lardinois was the editor of the volume and at the start of the project, conducted extensive background research. The foreword was written by Gerry Badger and Lardinois contributed a critical text, added the biographies of the 69 photographers together with the inventory of Magnum’s published books and oversaw the layout.

Martin Parr originated the idea of asking every Magnum photographer to choose six significant photographs from another Magnum photographer’s images and explain the selection. Lardinois researched the logistics of this proposition, working closely with Parr.
She negotiated with the photographers and estates and led the complicated process of matching up the pairs through to completion. It was the first time in the history of the agency that every member, with no exception, participated in one project.

The book’s concept, asking the photographers to choose work of a colleague and explain those choices, sheds a light on the inside workings of the illustrious agency. It shows what constitutes Magnum Photos at that moment in time.

In addition to this is gives an understanding of the selection and editing process itself. All of the living photographers participated and collaborated with a colleague or a photographer’s estate. The book’s concept asked the photographers to choose work of a colleague and explain those choices, thus shedding a light on the inside workings of the illustrious agency.

The large format of the volume, the first edition, enabled many photographs to be printed in large duo-tone, thus creating an ‘exhibition that could be viewed at home'.

The book was published in three formats (large, compact, and mini) and in nine languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean and Russian. it proved a best seller and is still in print.

Lardinois’ critical text analysed how the agency was formed, its subsequent development, photographers’ attitudes towards the nature of being a ‘Magnum photographer’ and its 60 years survival as a cooperative. The photographers included Susan Meiselas (selected by Jim Golberg), Donovan Wylie (selected by Trent Parke), Elliott Erwitt (selected by Ferdinando Scianna) and Henri Cartier-Bresson (selected by Eve Arnold).

The Sunday Times previewed the publication on 15 April 2007 and it was favourably reviewed world-wide.

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