At first glance, these appear to be ordinary portraits, but look closely and you'll notice a suspicious shadow in the background... Rest assured, the shadow belongs to the children's mother. In the 19th century, when sittings took a long time, mothers would apparently hold a cloth over themselves and support the children from behind to prevent them from getting bored or moving around. Knowing this, the eeriness gives way to a sense of the comical. Of course, the mothers were entirely serious. In an era of low birth rates, they must have approached the task with great care, hoping to capture a lively image of their children on camera. Yet, human perception is a curious thing; the more we're told not to look at something, the more our eyes are drawn to it. Last year, Linda Fregni Nagler released "The Hidden Mother," a collection that shines a spotlight on these "stand-ins." The women who hid behind their children now emerge into the light, nearly two centuries later.

"The Hidden Mother"
Artist | Linda Fregni Nagler
Publisher | MACK (www.mackbooks.co.uk)
Size | 238 x 286 mm / Softcover with dust jacket
Pages | 432 pages
Price | ¥8,190
Available at | twelvebooks and nationwide retailers
Published | 2013





Pieter Hugo, born in South Africa, is an emerging photographer who captures Africa's issues—conflict, poverty, environmental problems—with punchy visuals. His new work, "There's a Place in Hell for Me & My Friends," features portraits of himself and his friends. At first glance, they appear to be simple black-and-white photographs, but Hugo applies a special treatment that emphasizes melanin, bringing out scars and sunburns. In an age where Photoshop can instantly correct any perceived flaw, his photographs, which deliberately accentuate these imperfections, seem like an antithesis to a modern society obsessed with perfect beauty.

"There's a Place in Hell for Me & My Friends"
Artist | Pieter Hugo
Publisher | OODEE (oodee.net)
Size | 225 x 282 mm / Hardcover
Pages | 144 pages
Price | ¥8,190
Available at | twelvebooks and nationwide retailers
Published | 2013





Are you familiar with the term "selfie"? The Oxford English Dictionary named it the word of the year in 2013. It refers to a photograph taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to social media. But about 20 years ago, one photographer, Masahisa Fukase, spent a month taking selfies, using a waterproof camera in his bathtub. Fukase, who throughout his life explored the question of "what is self?", relentlessly confronted himself in the bathtub, trying various methods. While seemingly solitary, the experience emanates a sense of freedom and security, reminiscent of a fetus.

"bukubuku"
Artist | Masahisa Fukase
Publisher | Hysteric Glamour (www.hystericglamour.jp)
Size | 260 x 228 mm / Hardcover
Pages | 83 pages
Price | ¥5,250
Available at | Rat Hole Gallery
Published | 2004

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