Jurgen Bergbauer - Le Chiffonnier (The Rag-Picker)

Over a period of 11 years, Bergbauer photographically collected "image rags" and "object scraps" at flea markets in 11 European countries. He was particularly attracted to art reproductions. For a moment the long-gone aura of "pictures of pictures" seems to be recharged by being unconsciously staged. In the immediate vicinity of reproduced "masterpieces", almost everything turns into an equally seductive sensation. For the concept and design of this book, two particular publications have been inspirational: Le Musee Imaginaire (1947) by Andre Malraux, and the Xerox Book (1968) by Seth Siegelaub.