by Cedric Pollet
Frances Lincoln Ltd., 2010
Cedric Pollet’s Bark: An Intimate Look at the World’s Trees ranks with the day in November 1972 when I walked into Chartres Cathedral and saw the magnificent stained-glass windows. Words – no matter how superlative – cannot do justice. That tree bark is often overlooked and unappreciated beyond its utilitarian functions makes the images in this big, beautiful book that much more breathtaking.
While studying in the landscape design department at Reading University in 1999, Pollet taught himself to take photographs. He was captivated by English gardens and sought to capture them on camera.
“After spending a lot of time visiting gardens in search of what I hoped would be my ideal subject, I realized one day that flowers really didn’t do much for me,” Pollet admits in the introduction of Bark. “But I couldn’t leave without some kind of a souvenir. On my way out of that garden, the gnarled trunk of a centuries-old oak tree caught my attention and opened my eyes to a hitherto unknown domain: the world of bark.”
In that moment 13 years ago, Pollet found his life’s work.
He spent the next 10 years traveling around the world photographing the most unusual, beautiful images of bark he could find. As a result, Bark is a magic carpet ride that visits 25 nations on six continents – starting in Europe and ending in Africa. Pollet’s tour features more than 80 trees and shrubs.
Each two-page spread stands on its own as a composition. And you don’t have to start at page 1 and proceed to page 192 to enjoy this book; the stand-alone photographs and brief text allow you to plunge in anywhere.
Most of the trees merit a two-page spread. On one page you’ll find a full-page photograph of bark, while the opposite includes a small block of text packed with the common and scientific names of the tree, its historic uses, lore, other intriguing information, and additional photographs. In a couple of instances, some facts are incorrect; perhaps these minor discrepancies occurred when the book was translated from French to English. It doesn’t really matter. If you want a field guide about trees, look elsewhere.
Additional photographs complement the fullpage photographs. The images are startling, brilliant. The colors range from gaudy to subtle. Pollet’s genius is his acute eye for color, light, form, and texture. He has filled his book with page after page of stunning, breathtaking images – more than 400 in all.
First published in 2008 in France, Bark received the Redouté Prix Artistique in 2009 for being that year’s most beautiful book on plants. And no wonder. Bark is a fabulous art show bound within the covers of this luscious, coffee-table book. From pines to palms to oaks to ocotillos – whatever the species – expect the unexpected from Bark. Then savor it.
Find a way to see this book. If you cannot justify spending $45 to buy Bark, then borrow it from your local library. This magnificent book may forever change how you look at trees.