The Photography of Kamil Chadirji: Social Life in the Middle East, 1920-1940

A rare and beautiful collection of photographs by the late Kamil Chadirji is here published for the first time. The collection presents a panorama of social life in the Middle East (particularly Iraq) over 20 years. Printed in duotone, the photographs provide a vivid portrait of the many cultures and aspects of social life in the Arab world - from Kurds and Marsh Arabs in Iraq, potters, craftsmen, merchants and peasants at work around Baghdad, to scenes of daily life in Jerusalem, Aleppo, Damascus and Lebanon.

The collection provides an important record which will be welcomed by historians, anthropologists and students of the Middle East, but the superb quality of the photography will also ensure its appeal to art lovers and photographers alike.

Kamil Chadirji (1897-1968) was born to an influential Baghdad family and played a central role in the political life of lraq as founder and President of the National Democratic Party. His position allowed him unique opportunities to take photographs throughout Iraq at a time when the practice was effectively banned. An exhibition of his work was held by the Royal Photographic Society, Bath, in 1990. His son, Rifat Chadirji, a distinguished international architect and writer, has served as editor of this volume and provides a biographical introduction to his father.