Patti Smith&Lynn Goldsmith: Before.Easter.After

Book Review

Title: Patti Smith: Before.Easter.After

Author: Patti Smith and Lynn Goldsmith

Publisher: Rizzoli

Publication Date: October 2024

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Patti Smith, an icon of poetic rock and raw expression, has long captivated audiences with her singular voice and presence. Before Easter After is a visual and lyrical testament to her artistry, chronicling a pivotal era through the lens of photographer Lynn Goldsmith. This newly published trade edition, expanded from its original limited release, combines hundreds of evocative photographs with Smith's poetry and lyrics, offering an intimate portrait of her transformative years in the late 1970s.

Goldsmith’s images are more than mere documentation—they are a collaboration, capturing Smith’s essence in moments both staged and spontaneous. Each photograph vibrates with the raw energy and introspection that define Smith’s artistry. From her commanding stage presence to quiet, contemplative moments backstage or on the streets of New York City, the images reveal the multiplicity of her identity: the poet, the rebel, the seeker, and the friend.