Andreas Gursky has been widely celebrated for his monumental, extraordinarily detailed pictures, often exploring contemporary global themes. This comprehensive book takes a fresh look at the artist’s iconic images from the past four decades.

In a landmark conversation between two of the most significant figures in contemporary photography, Gursky talks to Jeff Wall about the sources for his photographic vision, while an essay by Hayward Gallery director Ralph Rugoff explores important but often neglected areas of the artist’s work. Essays by art historian Gerald Schröder and writer-curator Brian Sholis provide new insight into key pictures, and artist Katharina Fritsch offers personal snapshots of her Düsseldorf colleague, creating a portrait of the artist in the round. Presenting the artist’s most well known works – including Paris, Montparnasse (1993), 99 Cent (2001) and Chicago Board of Trade III (2009) – as well as new, previously unpublished photographs, this is an indispensible survey of forty years of work from one of the world’s most influential artists.

'I only pursue one goal: the encyclopedia of life.' -Andreas Gursky