作為攝影史上最有影響力的攝影書之一，羅伯特·弗蘭剋的《美國人》，於2008年6在中國發行瞭中文版。

這本中、英、德三語的五十周年紀念版，由德國史泰德齣版社精心設計和製作，並由年逾八旬的瑞士攝影師羅伯特·弗蘭剋親自監督。

“史泰德齣中文版是一個具有深遠意義的的決定，反映瞭中國在藝術和攝影全球性話語中的不可或缺的重要性，”藝術書商羅伯特·伯納歐如是說。

羅伯特·弗蘭剋的《美國人》的第一版本齣版於 1958 年5月15日。這本由法國齣版人德爾皮爾齣版的書主要是弗蘭剋1955年到1956年在美國拍攝的83幅照片。《美國人》的英文版本於1959年由GROVE 齣版社在紐約齣版。它和德爾皮爾版本展示瞭同樣的照片，但是導讀（序言）是由美國著名作傢傑剋·剋魯亞剋 (JACK KEROUAC) 寫的。

今年全麵推齣的史泰德版本《美國人》中，弗蘭剋全程參與瞭設計和製作的每一步驟。這些選自弗蘭剋收藏最佳相片中的83幅攝影作品，在史泰德數碼暗室裏重新掃描底片，揭示瞭許多老版的圖片原來是修剪過的。對於史泰德版本，弗蘭剋都仔細查閱和修正這些修剪過的圖片，絕大部決定恢復原樣。同時，史泰德版本選入瞭兩張從沒發錶過的作品。雖然兩個主題與其他版一緻（大都會保險公司大廈——紐約以及生産綫——底特律），但是角度稍微不同。

剋魯亞剋的導讀以及弗蘭剋的標識都與 GROVE 齣版社的版本保持不變。這次版本由弗蘭剋在德國哥廷根史泰德齣版社親自監督印刷，並對每一頁進行審核。

Robert Frank’s The Americans was first published on May 15, 1958 by Robert Delpire in Paris. It featured 83 of Frank’s photographs taken in America in 1955 and 1956, accompanied by writings in French about American political and social history selected by Alain Bosquet. Delpire’s Les Américains formed part of the Encyclopédie essentielle series, which presented foreign countries to a French audience. Each of Frank’s photographs in this edition is placed on a right-hand page, with the texts on the left-hand pages.

The first English edition of The Americans was published in 1959 by Grove Press in New York. It presented the same photographs as the Delpire edition, however a text by Jack Kerouac replaced the French writings. The book begins with Kerouac’s introduction, followed by Frank’s photographs in the same sequence as the Delpire edition. On the left-hand pages are short captions from Frank, which describe the location.

Since 1959 The Americans has been reprinted by different publishers, in multiple languages and formats. Frank has had varying influence on these editions; some were printed without his input, approval or knowledge. In July 2007 the Steidl edition of The Americans was printed. Frank was involved in every step of its design and production. The 83 photographs were scanned in tritone at Steidl’s digital darkroom from vintage prints in Frank’s collection, which revealed that many images in past editions were actually crops of the originals. For the Steidl book Frank studied and revised these crops and in many cases included the full photographs; in only a few cases the Delpire and Grove Press compositions remain.

The Steidl edition also reproduces two photographs printed from negatives different to those used for all previous editions. These photographs depict the same two subjects as in other editions (Metropolitan Life Insurance Building–New York City and Assembly Line–Detroit), but from a slightly different perspective.

Kerouac’s text and Frank’s captions remain unaltered from the Grove Press edition, the typography however was redesigned. As well as revising the book’s design, Frank also chose the paper, endpaper and book linen. He opted for a thread-stitched book, and conceived a new dust jacket made from the same paper as in the book (Xantur 170 g from Scheufelen, Germany), sealing it with a simple varnish. Frank personally oversaw printing on July 18, 2007, inspecting and approving each sheet at Steidl’s press in Göttingen.

In January 2009 the National Gallery of Art, Washington, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of "The Americans" with an exhibition that will examine both the construction of the book and the photographs themselves. All 83 photographs published in "The Americans" will be presented in the order established in the book, providing a detailed examination of the book's roots in Frank's early work and the impact on his later art.

"Looking In: Robert Frank's The Americans" will be touring the following US museums:

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. January 18–April 26, 2009

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, May 17–August 23, 2009

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, September 20–December 27, 2009

"Looking In: Robert Frank's The Americans"

Edited by Sarah Greenough

ISBN 978-3-86521-748-6

Co-published by National Gallery of Art and Steidl

in conjunction with the exhibition