West - by Anouk Masson Krantz (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

• Exceptional fine art photography - several years in the making - of the American cowboy/cowgirl and rodeo communities, the horse and cattle ranches, and the remarkable landscape of America's Wild West, by celebrated and award-winning photographer, Anouk Masson Krantz
• Photography of a society that honors historical traditions and practices a set of values that includes honesty, integrity, loyalty, work ethic, and dedication to family
• A lavish tome filled with rich and awe-inspiring photography of mysterious and inspiring elements of American culture, accompanied by the author/photographer's unique storytelling

The ranching communities in the heartland of the great American West may be a long way from New York City, but renowned photographer Anouk Masson Krantz has been drawn back time and time again to explore this largely unfamiliar and overlooked part of the world. In West: The American Cowboy, Anouk revisits this enduring iconic symbol of America's pioneering spirit. Set out in a stunning large-format book, and with heartfelt contributions from Jon Pardi, Red Steagall and others, the pages within inspire with a fresh and contemporary perspective of the American West. Along with the cowboy's ranching traditions comes a life built around the core values and faith that are central to their integrity. Long admired for their strength, relentless work ethic, and humble values, the forgotten American cowboy is alive and well, and has never stood in such stark contrast to the rapidly changing nation that surrounds them.

Earning wide acclaim for her incredible fine art work exhibited in galleries and published in the bestselling Wild Horses of Cumberland Island (2017), also by IMAGES, West: The American Cowboy is another artful, intimate study of the American character and their sense of place, and is a unique collection of works brought together by this award-winning photographer and storyteller.

Review Quotes

"I sin bok WEST - The American Cowboy skildrar fotografen Anouk Masson Krantz symbiosen mellan amerikanska cowboys och deras omgivning." HOOM, Sweden

"Las fotografias de Anouk Masson Krantz inspiran una perspectiva fresca y contemporánea del mundo de vaqueros americanos"-CONDE NAST TRAVELLER, Spain

"West: The American Cowboy" explores, in black and white, the enduringiconic symbol of our country's pioneering spirit. She also focused her lens onthe wide-open spaces in a largely overlooked part of the world.-- "Aspire"

Pictures speak volumes in West: The American Cowboy, a graphically stark, big and beautiful coffee table book by Anouk Krantz that only needs a simple [gift] bow for presentation.-- "Life Style Magazine"

[Anouk Krantz's] new coffee table book, West: The American Cowboy, is the Connecticut-based mom's in-depth look into ranch and cowboy culture.-- "The Local Moms Network"

A top holiday gift pick.-- "Maine Magazine"

A top holiday pick: Anouk Krantz's newest collection of photography will stir the heart of any Wyomingite. Capturing the tough landscape of the American frontier, Krantz also manages to convey the human -- and animal -- spirit of the West through her black-and-white images. This book is more than something to be left untouched on a coffee table; it's a gorgeous tribute to the sort of men and women that loan their name to the Cowboy State.-- "The Week"

A unique collection from an award-winning photographer and storyteller, the bookis an artful, intimate study of American character and sense of place.-- "Yahoo Style (UK)"

A Best Book Pick: A unique collection from an award-winning photographer and storyteller, the book is an artful, intimate study of American character and sense of place.-- "Yahoo Style"

Anouk Krantz's newest collection of photography will stir the heart ofany Wyomingite. Capturing the tough landscape of the American frontier, Krantzalso manages to convey the human -- and animal -- spirit of the West throughher black-and-white images. This book is more than something to be leftuntouched on a coffee table; it's a gorgeous tribute to the sort of men andwomen that loan their name to the Cowboy State.-- "Wyoming Magazine"

Anouk Masson Krantz saddles up for an intimate look at the big skies and cowboy spirit of the US heartland.-- "The Independent"

In this oversize ode to the American West, French photographer Anouk Krantz captures the expansiveness of the frontier as well as the rodeo cowboys, ranchers, country-music singers, and cattle that call it home - all in expressive black-and-white.-- "New York Magazine"

John Wayne was always one to grab the bulls by the horns. As do the wranglers photographed in West: The American Cowboy, the forthcoming new book that reframes contemporary ranch culture. The book's black and white portraits, which range from rodeos and wranglers to open skies and dramatic flatlands, have a cinematic quality that evokes a lodestar of American life: the Wild West. One can't help but imagine how intrepid auteur Anouk Masson Krantz might have photographed Duke in his day, being as he was, most home on the range (and obviously comfortable with the camera): with hat, horse and bandana to boot.--Jenn Thornton "The John Wayne Foundation"

No. 1 gift pick for horse lovers: This lavish tome filled with rich and awe- inspiring photography includes images of a society that honors historical traditions and practices a set of values that includes honesty, integrity, loyalty, work ethic, and dedication to family. Set out in a stunning large-format book, and with heartfelt contributions from Jon Pardi, Red Steagall and others, the pages within inspire with a fresh and contemporary perspective of the American West.-- "Fupping"

One of the best books to gift this holiday season (2019). Whether you live out West or know someone who idolizes John Wayne, this book would make for a treasured gift. It embodies the "pioneering spirit" of this beautiful landscape.-- "TODAY.com"

One of the year's most giftable coffee table books.-- "The Strategist"

The iconic symbol of America's pioneering spirit captured in a series of lavish fine art pictures: Jaw-dropping images of the Wild West's cowboys and epic landscapes.-- "The Maily Mail"

The remarkable result of 7000 miles of exploration....-- "Denver Life Magazine"

The Western lifestyle is filled with photographic moments not everyone gets to experience, whether its breathtaking landscapes, action-packed bronc rides, newborn foals and calves playing in the pasture, or families working together to get a job done. Award-winning photographer Anouk Krantz documents the emotion and simplicity of this lifestyle in duotone photos featured in her new photography book West: The American Cowboy.--Jennifer Denison "Western Horseman"

There are no gunfights or brawl images in this book. Instead, the 120-plus real-life photos showcase the camaraderie, community connections, family life, pioneering spirit, hard work, and beauty in cowboy life. The book also features a number of awe-inspiring landscape images of the plains and canyons where the cowboys live and roam.--Sarah Holt "Daily Mail"

This lavish tome filled with rich and awe-inspiring photography includes images of a society that honors historical traditions and practices a set of values that includes honesty, integrity, loyalty, work ethic, and dedication to family. Set out in a stunning large-format book, and with heartfelt contributions from Jon Pardi, Red Steagall and others, the pages within inspire with a fresh and contemporary perspective of the American West.--Jacob Jacobowitz, 8 Ultimate Horse Lover Gifts to Get this Christmas "Fupping"

When French-born photographer Anouk Masson Krantz traveled from her homeon the East Coast to explore the life, land, and people of the American West, shehad no idea that some of the cowboys and ranchers she would meet along theway would include famous folks like Tuf Cooper and Red Steagall. Her quest wasnot to glorify well-known ranches or big-name cowboys but to show the hard workof the West and the people who do it.-- "Cowboys & Indians"

Whether you live out West or know someone who idolizes John Wayne, this book would make for a treasured gift. It embodies the "pioneering spirit" of this beautiful landscape.-- "Today"

While the photos in West: The American Cowboy were shot as far afield as Texas and Kansas, Anouk Krantz's newest collection of photography will stir the heart of any Wyomingite. Capturing the tough landscape of the American frontier, Krantz also manages to convey the human -- and animal -- spirit of the West through her black-and-white images. This book is more than something to be left untouched on a coffee table; it's a gorgeous tribute to the sort of men and women that loan their name to the Cowboy State.--Jeva Lang, A Holiday Gift Guide for all 50 States "The Week"

About the Author

Anouk Masson Krantz is a French fine-art photographer and author based in NYC, best known for her American Western work.

Born and raised in France, she later moved to NYC in the late 1990's. After years of work in the luxury consumer industry, she left her role at Cartier's corporate office in New York City in 2003 to pursue photography. Krantz carefully selects projects that inspire as her works compel us to find solace and pause for a moment of peace and self-reflection. Her minimalistic, black and white large-scale contemporary photographs draw upon her refined eye to stir one's emotions and move the soul.

Krantz's photography has received worldwide acclaim as she has built a reputation as a leading visionary of cowboy photography of our times. Her success has influenced the recent resurgence of the Western genre in popular culture. Her books have become a global sales phenomenon and sat atop the bestseller lists for five years.

She has collaborated with Yellowstone series creator and director Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the foreword for her book American Cowboys in 2021 as well as with the legendary Bernie Taupin, known for writing Elton John's songs, who penned the foreword for her latest book FRONTIER: Cowboy of the Americas.

Krantz broke barriers as a woman from the outside. Since 2017, in her Western travels, she worked tirelessly to earn the trust and confidence of the ever private and discrete American ranching world. She gradually became known to the cowboy community and doors across the country opened. Over eight years, she has logged well over 125,000 miles by herself in her quest to reveal the authentic daily lives of the noble and virtuous American Cowboy.

"They would invite me into their homes, share meals and allowed me to ride among them. As we began to understand one another, I was accepted as one of them."

Over the past two years, Anouk has travelled further to explore the Western way of life across the Americas. Her recent works and new large-format 360-page artbook FRONTIER will be released on November 4th, 2024.
A limited slipcover edition as well as a limited leather collector's edition with a signed print will be released early 2025.

Her books, all published by Images Publishing/ACC Art Books, include:
Wild Horses of Cumberland Island (Nov 2017) (edition II // five reprints)
West: The American Cowboy (Nov 2019) (ten reprints)
American Cowboys (Nov 2021) - foreword by Taylor Sheridan (Nov 2021) (seven reprints)
Ranchland: Wagonhound - foreword by Gretel Ehrlich (Nov 2022) (two reprints)

Krantz's photographs have received accolades from the International Photography Awards and International Monochrome Awards. More recently she received the prestigious Wrangler Award at the 2023 Western Heritage Awards for her latest artbook Ranchland. Her work is displayed in prominent museums and private collections worldwide. In 2023, Cowboys & Indians named her "Trailblazer of the West" along with other western luminaries Lainey Wilson, Joanna Gaines and Quannah Chasinghorse. Krantz's work has been featured around the world in publications such as GQ, The Times, L'Oeil De La Photographie, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Time, Harper's Bazaar, and Departures.

Anouk is an active supporter of several worthy causes including the American Cancer Society, the National Indigenous Women's Resouce Center and Build A Nest.

"The bestselling Western art book author in history." - TODAY SHOW, Read with Jenna I USA

"Wild West enthusiasts - and yes, Yellowstone fans ... gorgeous, black and white imagery of cowboys, ranchers, and their families in the land they love...." - Time I USA

Western Heritage Awards: Images from... "Real Yellowstone" ... - The Times I UK

These photographs and stories offer an inspiring new perspective of today's cowboy/ranching culture and land stewardship of the American West. - L'oeil De La Photographie I FRANCE

If you're a fan of Westerns, shows like Yellowstone or any Taylor Sheridan series, then you're going to love our next guest. In fact, she's Taylor Sheridan's favorite cowboy photographer. - FOX News I USA

Life on Wyoming's Wagonhound, as captured in an award-winning recent book, has changed surprisingly little since the days of the old west. - Wild West I USA

French photographer Anouk Masson Krantz has accomplished something that only few people have achieved before: she drove through the American West, immersed herself in the world of the cowboy, and became part of their culture. As her photographs so beautifully show. - RAMP I GERMANY

A collection of stunning photographs, offering an intimate glimpse in the daily life of these hard-working men and women. - Departures I USA

This book would make for a treasured gift. It embodies the "pioneering spirit" of this beautiful landscape. - Today I USA

The Big Book of cowboys. A tribute to the American cowboy through photography. - Western Art Collector I USA

Oversize ode to the American West. - New York Magazine I USA

Anouk Krantz's book American Cowboys presents a contemporary affirmation that our cowboy culture is not only alive but thriving. - Western Horseman I USA

Her quest was not to glorify well-known ranches or big-name cowboys but to show the hard work of the West and the people who do it. - Cowboys & Indians I USA

Anouk Krantz's newest collection of photography will stir the heart. Capturing the tough landscape of the American frontier, Krantz also manages to convey the human ? and animal ? spirit of the West through her black-and-white images. - The Week I USA

An intimate look at the big skies and cowboy spirit of the US heartland. - The Independent I UK

This 2021 collection of evocative photography will make you rethink America's heartland and what it means to be a cowboy or cowgirl. - Hearst I UK

Breathtaking images. - Town & Country I USA

Un luogo di pace, bellezza, silenzi, libro pieno di poesia. - Vanity Fair I IT

Captivating photos. - Time I USA