strand

Strand Book Store, Inc.

New York City, N.Y.

Marvin Mondlin

Sr. Vice President

June 1992

Dear Irwin;

Lou Bernstein and Louis Garibaldi have produced a

breathtaking view of the ocean life in Reflections on an

Aquarium. It is a beautiful book which largely owes its

beauty to the consummate art of Lou Bernstein's vision. The

way he captures the grace and power of whales, dolphins and

seals, the way he reveals mystery and terror in sharks,

sawfish, octopi and scorpion fish, the sense of humor displayed

in walrus, in turtle and in penguin - all add up to a book that

has real emotional vibrancy. Browsing through this work is

equivalent to a trip to the aquarium plus a visit to an art

gallery. Reflections on an Aquarium, text and images,

show how much love, how much thought and respect for these

beings photographer and museum director both have.

On the artistic side, it is my opinion, after more than thirty

years of looking closely at the art of photography since its

inception, that Lou Bernstein ranks with the greatest

practitioners of the twentieth century. If we had only this small

sample of his work we would have enough to see that we were

in the presence of a photographer who sees with both greatness

of heart and with the rare vision and cunningness that only

such others as Cartier-Bresson, Blossfeldt and Weston

have. Even while being winsome, or giving us a shiver he

transforms the immediate into something eternal, sculptural,

luminous, mysterious.

It is a wonderful book. It deserves to be seen and enjoyed by

everyone. Whoever cares for nature and art will find this bonk

a lively and lasting pleasure

Sincerely,

Marvin Mondlin