Judy DitnerDavid Goldblatt: No Ulterior Motive (Hardcover)

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David Goldblatt: No Ulterior Motive is a powerful, image-rich survey of the renowned South African photographer’s seven-decade career. Spanning from his early black-and-white photographs of the 1950s to his later large-format color work, the book captures everyday life under and after apartheid. Rather than focusing on dramatic events, Goldblatt documented the ordinary and often overlooked moments that revealed the deeper social and moral structures of South African society.

Organized thematically - through sections like “Assembly,” “Disbelief,” “Dialogues,” and “Extraction” the book showcases Goldblatt’s interest in working-class communities, architecture, landscapes, and the built environment. It features around 150 of his photographs, along with material from his personal archive.

Importantly, the book also includes reflections from contemporary South African photographers and scholars, many of whom were mentored or inspired by Goldblatt. These voices, including Zanele Muholi and Sabelo Mlangeni, offer fresh perspectives on his legacy and continued influence.

Accompanied by insightful essays from leading curators and critics, this book is both a retrospective and a deep exploration of the visual and political impact of one of South Africa’s most important documentary photographers.