In this book, Paula Chamlee turns her elegant graphic vision to an American icon—the family-owned corner market. As a remembrance of a nearly vanished era, San Francisco: Twenty Corner Markets and One in the Middle of the Block is an instant classic. As a work of modern art, it invigorates the subtle tensions between abstraction and documentation that are a hallmark of Paula Chamlee's work.

Photographing in San Francisco with her 8x10-inch view camera, Chamlee eschewed the traditional scenic views and found herself drawn to the family-owned corner markets—those small islands of individuality that coexist with big city commerce. Each of these markets has its distinct character and charm, and Chamlee's aesthetic response led her to produce this significant series of photographs.