Overview

Des Oiseaux (15th title in the Des Oiseaux series) by Paolo Roversi, published by Atelier EXB in 2023, is a medium-format hardback first edition/first impression. The book documents a studio series of large-format Polaroid portraits of falconry birds — owls and falcons — shot by Roversi. The images emphasize saturated, patinated tones and a minimalist portrait approach that treats birds as formal subjects, exploring their relationship to humans and to portraiture itself.

Who is Paolo Roversi?

• Italian-born, internationally known for fashion and portrait photography.
• Known for a restrained, painterly aesthetic, often using Polaroid and analogue processes.
• In Des Oiseaux he applies his portrait sensibility to birds, merging fashion/portrait practice with natural history subject matter.

What makes this edition notable?

• 15th title in the Atelier EXB Des Oiseaux series — a curated collection focusing on birds by notable photographers.
• First edition, first impression (2023) — important for collectors and provenance.
• Medium-format hardback — a substantial object intended for close viewing, often with high-quality printing to honor the Polaroid originals.

Photographic technique and visual qualities — step by step

1. Medium & Process: Roversi shot large-format Polaroids (instant film); the book reproduces those Polaroid images (often keeping the textured, patinated look of the originals).
2. Lighting & Color: Saturated, almost monochrome palettes (violet, old-gold patina). Light is directional and soft, revealing feathers’ texture and the birds’ eyes while keeping backgrounds minimal.
3. Composition: Birds posed on stools or chairs; the staging resembles human portraiture — three-quarter poses, direct or sidelong glances, and occasional in-motion shots.
4. Expression & Presence: The birds’ stillness, sudden movement, and surprised gaze create a tension between animal wildness and posed dignity — a painterly, timeless quality.
5. Thematic layer: The images ask viewers to consider birds as artistic models and comment on the historical practice of falconry and human–bird relationships.

How to study and teach from this book — a guided approach

1. First viewing (Neutral observation): Sit with the book in quiet light. Spend 30–60 seconds on each spread before reading captions.
2. Second viewing (Formal analysis): For each image note composition, framing, point of focus, lighting, color palette, and background treatment. Ask: how does the lighting shape mood? Where is the eye drawn?
3. Contextualize: Research Roversi’s prior work and the Atelier EXB series to place these images within his career and the collection’s aims.
4. Thematic discussion: Consider ethics and symbolism: falconry as cultural practice, animal agency in portraiture, the line between study and spectacle.
5. Creative exercise: Recreate a still-life portrait using a single animal or object to explore how posture and light confer dignity or narrative.

Collecting, verifying and condition checklist

• Verify edition: Check the colophon/verso for the edition statement, printing number line, publisher imprint (Atelier EXB), and publication year (2023).
• Physical checks: Examine the dust jacket (if present), binding tightness, page edges, and any signs of foxing, moisture, or printer marks. For Polaroid reproductions, check image quality, color shift, and printing registration.
• Inclusion of originals: Most copies contain reproductions. If a copy claims to include original Polaroids or signed prints, request provenance, receipts, and provenance documentation; inspect for artist signature or unique numbering.
• Market value: First edition/first impression status and condition raise value. Signed copies or copies with extra material (prints, notes) command premiums.

Care and display

• Store in a cool, dry, dark place; avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading of printed inks that emulate Polaroid colors.
• Use archival boxes or sleeves for long-term storage. Keep the book upright on a shelf or flat if very large to protect the spine.
• For display, use low UV lighting and rotate exhibits to limit light exposure.

Further study and references

• Compare with other portrait studies of animals (wildlife portraiture, early natural-history plates, and contemporary photographers who use Polaroid).
• Read about falconry history and ethics to enrich interpretation of human–bird dynamics in the images.
• Study Roversi interviews and monographs to understand his process with analogue and instant film.

Summary: Paolo Roversi’s Des Oiseaux (2023, Atelier EXB) is a carefully printed medium-format hardback first edition that translates his minimalist portraiture and mastery of instant film into a quiet, painterly exploration of birds as models. For students, collectors, and viewers, it offers rich visual study — from technique and composition to broader cultural and ethical questions about our relationship with birds.