On Abortion by Laia Abril presents a rigorous photographic inquiry into the fraught and multifaceted issue of abortion, addressing its social, political, and deeply personal dimensions. Abril employs a documentary-based visual language that combines intimate portraiture, archival documentation, and graphic storytelling elements to build a nuanced and layered narrative. The sequencing and design reflect an intention to engage viewers thoughtfully with the human experiences and legal contexts behind abortion, emphasizing the stigma, restrictions, and emotional burdens faced by women worldwide. The book is a hardcover edition of 196 pages, published by Dewi Lewis Publishing in 2018, which includes evocative imagery alongside text and archival materials to frame a global perspective on reproductive rights and abortion laws.
This photobook stands out for its careful mediation of a highly politicized and sensitive topic without reducing it to polemics or abstract debate. Collectors may appreciate Abril’s methodical approach that prioritizes personal stories, resilience, and acts of resistance, rendered through a somber and reflective mood. While the book’s edition and print run specifics are not detailed here, Dewi Lewis Publishing’s reputation as a respected publisher in the photographic arts enhances its appeal within serious collecting circles. The work’s thematic relevance and its combination of photographic and documentary storytelling invite deeper scholarly and collector interest, particularly among those focusing on social justice, gender, and human rights in photographic practice.
