Emmet Gowin's Intimate Family Photographs Published for First Time

Princeton University Press has published Baldwin Street: Photographs 1966–1994, a new collection by renowned American photographer Emmet Gowin. This book showcases personal images of his wife’s family in Danville, Virginia, many of which are being presented for the first time. Gowin, who was born in Danville in 1941, started capturing moments of his wife Edith and her family in the late 1960s on Baldwin Street, where her relatives lived in six adjacent homes. The collection includes portraits of Edith, her three sisters, and their families, alongside Gowin’s own kin, and is recognized in major institutions like MoMA. Many negatives were rediscovered during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to new prints. The book features a preface by Gowin, an interview conducted by Joel Smith, and insights from both Emmet and Edith. Gowin referred to Edith's family as "my first true subject," appreciating their distinct simplicity and warmth. These photographs reflect family life and gatherings over decades, providing a heartfelt glimpse into small-town America.