VU: The Story of a Magazine

Established in Paris in 1928, VU combined stunning photography with dynamic layouts and first‑rate reporting, creating a revolution in journalism and setting the stage for future photo magazines like Life, Stern, and Paris Match.

VU covered a wide and eclectic range of subjects including politics, world affairs, social issues, discoveries, exploration, the arts, sports, and entertainment. It intended to be an illustrated journal of the week’s events ― a movie newsreel on paper ― and published work by some of the most important photographers of the time: Robert Capa, André Kertész, Henri Cartier‑Bresson, Brassaï, Man Ray, and more.

This book gathers some of the best work from more than 600 issues of VU: covers, double‑page spreads, and complete reports. It provides both a record of the prewar world of the twenties and thirties, and an unparalleled history of photojournalism in the early twentieth century. 200+ b&w illustrations.