No Singing Allowed

One of the most complex and evocative manifestations of popular culture in the twentieth century, flamenco has always interested photographers from the World over. This volume finally provides an exhaustive study of the many ways in which photographers of different periods have approached the universe of flamenco. From the nineteenth-century travelers who sought out the small Gypsy communities of Andalusia in search of exotic locales to the most sophisticated contemporary fashion photographers, the seductive world of flamenco music, dance, and “deep song” has always attracted the photographic lens. In some cases, the relationship has been accidental; in others, it constitutes a profound exploration of the essential nature of the art.
During the Franco regime, a sign reading “Flamenco music prohibited” Could often be seen in bars and taverns in different parts of Spain. This volume Mathers 170 photographs by more than 70 different photographers from around the world. It includes images by great masters of the genre as well as the eloquent testimonies of occasional travelers. From Laurent to Pierre Bonnard, the history of photography has offered an account of the aesthetic, anthropological, economic, and social evolution of flamenco.