Synopses & Reviews
Because Eden's genius resides in imagination, it is amobile spirit; always found in place but never confined by place. The spirit of Edenmigrates within us, animated through our imaginative responses to actual places inthe material world, in our roles as gardeners and poets, painters andphotographers.
--from the introduction
What did Eden look like? InImagining Eden the photographer Lyle Gomesobserves landscapes that represent the idea of locusamoenus--the pleasant place. The tradition oflocus amoenus goes back to the idyllicdescriptions of fictional locations, often called Arcadia, in the writings ofSappho, Apollonius, and Virgil, in the imagined period of the Golden Age. We alsorecognize this concept in Eden, of course, where it suggests a loss that stillhaunts our imaginations. It is an idea distinctly different from that of wilderness, for we feel protected in these places--even provided for, though there is no sign oftoil. The chance that this Eden might somehow be regained gives the concept itsconsolatory power.
For fifteen years, Gomes hastraveled across America and Europe to find examples of this enduring ideal of placein parks, English gardens, even golf courses. Gomes's search took him to MountAuburn cemetery, Central Park, Monticello, the San Francisco Presidio, villa gardensnear Italy's Lake Como, Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire, and private gardens such asBiltmore and Dumbarton Oaks.
Imagining Eden includes an eloquent introductoryessay in which the landscape historian Denis Cosgrove explores how the concept ofthe locus amoenus relates to Gomes's work, andthe photographs are accompanied by an evocative selection of quotes by the varioussettings' designers and by inspired observers. The book concludes with an extensiveinterview in which Gomes discusses how he balances craft and inspiration, the roleof research in preparing a shoot, his preference for black-and-white over color(I was completely, and immediately, enamored with the silverimage), and a sense of discovery as a chief motivation in all hiswork.