Aperture’s 2011 edition of “Koudelka: Gypsies” is a monumental restoration of Josef Koudelka’s original artistic vision. Printed in a unique quadratone mix by Gerhard Steidl, this volume expands the original selection of 60 images to 109. The layout, following Koudelka’s 1968 maquette, utilizes vertical full-height pictures and dramatic gatefolds to immerse the viewer in the intimate, secretive world of the Roma. Koudelka’s high-contrast, empathetic photography transcends traditional documentary, capturing a people living on the edge of society with a primal mix of sorrow, mystery, and resilience.
