W. Eugene Smith (1918-78) is widely acknowledged as the 'master photo-essayist of his generation'. He declared that his mission in life was nothing less than to 'document, in words and pictures, the human condition'. 55 includes images from the landmark photo-essays 'Country Doctor', 'Pittsburgh' and 'Minamata', as well as other work from his massive legacy.

Other artists in this series include: Eugene Atget, Mathew Brady, Wynn Bullock, Julia Margaret Cameron, Joan Fontcuberta, David Goldblatt, Nan Goldin, Graciela Iturbide, Andre Kertesz, Dorothea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, Joel Meyerowitz, Boris Mikhailov, Lisette Model, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Eadweard Muybridge, Eugene Richards, Shomei Tomatsu, Joel-Peter Witkin

• Phaidon 55