Patti Smith Horses, Paris 1976

Patti Smith: Horses, Paris 1976 is a stunning collection of photographs by Claude Gassian, documenting one of rock music’s most mythic figures at a pivotal moment in her career. In 1976, Patti Smith brought her raw, poetic, confrontational art to Paris — and Gassian was there to capture it all. These photographs show Smith not just as a performer but as a presence: a poet-rocker whose intensity transformed every room she entered. Shot in black and white with an intimacy that speaks of genuine access and mutual trust, the images have the quality of documents and works of art simultaneously. Published by Abrams, this book belongs in the collection of anyone who cares about rock history, photography, or the particular energy of 1970s New York art. A rare record of a singular artist at the height of her powers.