With premium levels set to high, New York City-based book publisher and lifestyle company Assouline has released a new photography book on Paris Saint-Germain, shot by photographer Julien Scussel over a six year period.
For six years, photographer Julien Scussel has had unprecedented access to PSG and its players, and the result has now been unveiled, with a beautifully constructed behind-the-scenes vision of one of the biggest clubs in world football. It’s a one-of-a-kind book that brings together a series of shots that are a step above traditional sports photos. Only problem? It’s limited to 1000 copies and will set you back in excess of a cool grand.
But the book is spectacular in its presentation. International football icon Pelé is alongside French author and screenwriter David Foenkinos — a loyal supporter of the club — to introduce and unveil faces and bodies that evoke all sorts of emotions page after page. From Paris and New York to Tokyo and Doha, there’s a host of stars featured that have contributed to the club’s fame, including the likes of Beckham, Ibrahimović, Cavani, Neymar Jr., Messi, Mbappé and many, many more.
David Foenkinos, who narrates the book, observed: “The project promises to be a long-term insight. Of course, players are often photographed – at this level of fame, most of their life becomes public. But here, the project is unique because of its artistic purpose; some shots offer a close-up look, just like a painting, while we can also see the incredible details from big pictures. We can clearly feel that the photographer is driven by a constant quest for the ideal lighting, like great Renaissance painters. There is inspiration from Géricault and Rembrandt in the use of chiaroscuro. In some photos, players even nod to a form of mythology. Julien Scussel is mindful of bodies and veins like the sculptures of the Olympus Gods.”
A premium way to view the club that has carved a reputation as an icon of contemporary culture, a club of the new generation, which shines beyond the football field. Quite the coffee table piece, if you have a spare €1,050 burning a hole in your pocket.
Pick up the Paris Saint-Germain photo book at eu.assouline.com
