Jim Goldberg – Coming and Going

Review by Rudy Vega •

When one begins as a prolific photographer and embarks on creating a visual memoir spanning three generations of family, the outcome could very well be Jim Goldberg’s Coming and Going. Indeed, it is. The work is also a scrapbook of unvarnished life, with raw documents presented candidly. Thousands of shutter actuations, captured in mere fractions of a second, come together to weave narratives that recount a life lived. The title, “Coming and Going,” encompasses birth, death, and everything in between – from the joy of becoming a parent to the sorrow of a parent’s passing.

Goldberg never hesitates to share private, intimate moments. His camera has unrestrained access. Throughout his career as a documentary photographer, Goldberg has continuously sought innovative storytelling methods, pushing boundaries and challenging the traditional power dynamics of the camera. By incorporating text and allowing subjects to express themselves in their own words, he aims to diminish the hierarchical relationship between photographer and subject. In Coming and Going, he uses similar strategies, juxtaposing casual family snapshots with documentary photos taken during other projects. The collection doesn’t follow a strict order but instead captures spontaneous moments of life. There’s a sense of free association in Coming and Going, reminiscent of improvisational jazz.

In compiling a lifetime of images, one encounters moments to be celebrated—anniversaries, milestones, and achievements that segment life into distinct narratives. Ultimately, a visual memoir carries with it the inherent melancholy of time gone by. Yet in this collection, Goldberg has arranged his images to convey a balance, suggesting that all events defining one’s life carry a similar weight of significance.

The collection within the pages of Coming and Going is vast and diverse. Each page is distinct; Goldberg treats every one as its own canvas. The assortment includes polaroids, contact sheets, and photograms. There are pictures of other pictures, and pages filled with text—both handwritten and printed. Some photos are torn or ripped, while others intentionally showcase the sprocket holes of film edges, emphasizing the medium’s authenticity. Images can dominate a two-page spread or be subtly placed amidst the white space. Various color backgrounds are used to give each page a unique look. Goldberg’s layout strategy exudes a certain restlessness, effectively conveying an overwhelming surge of memories. One can’t help but wonder what might have been excluded from this compilation.

Coming and Going is a rich tapestry, almost overwhelming if one attempts to absorb it all at once. I found myself returning to its pages repeatedly, not seeking a traditional narrative, but piecing together Goldberg’s story like a non-linear puzzle, each piece contributing to a broader understanding of one individual’s life.

In conclusion, while Coming and Going might seem like a culmination, the back cover suggests otherwise, indicating that he is “Still Going.”

____________

The PhotoBook Journal previously featured a review of Jim Goldberg’s Open See.

____________

Rudy Vega is a Contributing Editor and resides in Irvine, CA. He is a fine art photographer and writer.

____________

Jim Goldberg, Coming and Going

Photographer: Jim Goldberg (born in New Haven, CT; lives in San Francisco, CA)

Editor: Jim Goldberg

Publisher: MACK: Copyright © 2023

Texts: Jim Goldberg

Language: English

Large format OTA-bound paperback, 360 pages, 26.7 x 34 cm; printed in Italy;  ISBN 978-1-912339-77-8

Book Design: Jim Goldberg and Eric Ruby

____________

Articles and photographs published in the PhotoBook Journal may not be reproduced without the permission of the PhotoBook Journal staff and the photographer(s). All images, texts, and designs are under copyright by the authors and publishers.