Book Description

Reproducing Tim Biskup's "100 Paintings" series in a compact, hardcover book, is this 5" x 5" volume of one hundred crisp, colorful paintings. The hardcover volume presents Biskup's work in its actual size, with an introduction by critically acclaimed illustrator and Emmy winner, Gary Baseman. Inspired by his Italian sketchbook, Biskup tied his illustrations together with numbers and set a goal of completing one hundred detailed paintings. The ensuing book, "100 Paintings," was immediately popular among fans appreciating its compact size. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An absolute steal at this price!
You've got to be kidding that this book sells for as little as it does. No doubt the diminutive size of each reproduction figures into the low price, but the quality is first rate throughout. Tim's imaginative renderings (at actual size in the reproduction) are bright and crisp and colorful and energetic and...and..and.... If your house, like mine, is filled with coffee table art books, this bite size morsel is just perfect to fill in the little crack left in a wall of books. Not only do you get spectacular images, Tim has included information in the back about when and where each picture was shown. Each image is placed on a black matte background which launches the image toward you. The binding in the book is first rate and will last well into the future when it becomes that hard to find collectors' item in 3004. And if you're reading this review you know you don't even have to get up and go out the door to get it, so get it! ... Read more

Book Description

Situated in the heart of Paris, the Musée d'Orsay boasts the greatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in the world, unparalleled in its diversity and quality. Since its opening in 1986 in a spectacularly renovated train station, the museum has welcomed more than 50 million visitors to its collection of works by Bouguereau, Courbet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Redon, Whistler, Gauguin, and other artists of the mid-19th century to the early 20th century.

In this deluxe, oversize volume, the museum's director, Serge Lemoine, and his team of curators and specialists examine this extraordinary collection, ranging from the primacy of Academic painting through the shock of Impressionism to the rise of modern art. With 830 full-color illustrations of masterpieces by some of the world's best-loved artists-from Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles to Cézanne's Apples and Oranges-this is the definitive guide to paintings in one of the world's most popular museums. The exhaustive scope of this book and the richness of its imagery make Paintings in the Musée d'Orsay an essential addition to the bookshelves of all lovers of Impressionism and of great art. AUTHOR BIO: Serge Lemoine is director of the Musée d'Orsay and a professor at the Sorbonne. He has published numerous books, articles, and essays, particularly on abstract, Constructivist, and Dadaist art. He has also organized many exhibitions in France and elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Mucking up the pages of the New Yorker, the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Forbes, the Atlantic Monthly, Blab, and more, Gary Baseman has populated the finest publications with his inimitable brand of illustration. Now Dumb Luck, presents the first complete collection of his work, spanning more than ten years. According to Baseman himself, his art inhabits "that muddy spot where the line between genius and stupidity has been smudged beyond recognition." Dark and dopey, hokey and heartbreaking, his world is populated with freaky folks, maimed bunnies, weird wiener dogs, and anthropomorphic ice-cream cones that yearn and burn just like we do. Baseman's particular genius lies in capturing those ridiculous and all-too-often appalling aspects of being human. Hilarious testimony to the mind of its creator, Dumb Luck is both an art manifesto and a raw celebration of idiocy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Dumb Luck it Ain't
Seemingly simple forms hide complex thoughts. This book is like the height chart marked on the kitchen door frame measuring progress. Gary displays a variety of themes that have characterized his work over the past decade. Some will be drawn to the images reflecting his work on "Teacher's Pet" the emmy-winning ABC Saturday morning show that saw its last incarnation as a full-out animation feature film. Others will see his work as some Freudian-Jungian self examination of our hidden natures (that we try not to put on display for everyone). Even others will see his work as an alternative iconography to sleek Madison Avenue campaigns. This book is all of this and serves as a wonderful summation of Gary's work to date. The fact that Gary's images were used for the "Cranium" game is no fluke -- there is a high correlation between the type of individual who enjoys the mind game and the one who appreciates Gary's art. Sardonic humor never seems to go out style -- so, too, Gary's own expression of that humor will wear well. Do your brain a favor and get this book.

Eye-Popping Fun!
I just received my copy of Gary Baseman's "Dumb Luck" book. I immediately felt compelled to pop an Elvis Costello record on my hi-fi and sit down with an ice-cold martini and go through the book cover to cover TWICE!

Gary Baseman's colors and shapes are wildly beautiful! His point of view is laugh-out-loud funny! That combination makes this book a joy to savor! ... Read more

Book Description

Orignially built as a palace for the kings of France, the Louvre is Paris' -- if not the world's -- most breathtaking museum. A destination in itself, the Louvre has an extensive collection that offers something for every taste. See the ancient glories of Mesopotamia and the palace of Sargon II, king of Assyria; study the marble statues, and delicate ceramics of the Greco-Roman world; or walk through the galleries and study the paintings of Raphael, Leonardo, Van Dyck, El Greco, Gericault, Goya and other greats.

Let the Knopf Guide help you explore the Louvre's rich architectural history and unsurpassed collection (from Leonardo's Mona Lisa to a pyramid from the sands of Egypt) -- all explained in encyclopedic detail. Go behind-the-scenes to learn about the framing, restoration and documentation of the collection. Take in the surrounding sights, from the Tuileries Gardens to the Saint-Roche Cathedral, the Palais-Royal and the Bourse du Commerce. An informative and indispensable volume for art lovers of all tastes, this lavishly illustrated guide is a trusted companion for anybody visiting this unique part of Paris. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Poorly organized and incomplete
Only half the book is actually devoted to the collection. The rest of the book is about the history of the Louvre and what's around the Louvre. The maps were so tiny they were about impossible to see, and in some sections were just absent. For instance, the Italian painting section, I could never find a map for and spent a long time wandering about trying to find specific paintings (Titian). Unforunately, there does not seem to be much of an alternative. The limited catalog that they sell there is probably a better option, or the section that most guide books have is probably adequate. The collection is so huge and this book so limited, it was hardly worth even bringing along.

I second the 'Reader from Germany' - The Best!
As the Louvre is just so darn big, you need this book if for no other reason than to whittle down the museum to what interests you. New York City's Met. is big, but frankly, the whole Met. would be one half of one floor, of one wing, in the Louvre. Most Knopf guides are very detailed and thoughtfully written and this is no exception. Indispensible for your visit(s) to the Louvre.

A Valuable Tool!
I received this book as a gift when I left to study abroad in Paris a few years ago. I went to Paris to study art and I found this book to be an excellent guide to this fantastic museum. It is so interesting and informative. And when you are done visiting the Louvre, you have an excellent souvenir!

A treasure trove of richly detailed images
A treasure trove of images and information making it almost redundant to go to the Louvre itself. Too bad there are not guides like this for the Musee D'Orsay and other museums of Paris. It seems that the guide should have been expanded to include the other museums since the Knopf city guide book gives the others so little space.

The very best
I'm never going to Paris and the Louvre without this guide. It shows background about the history also as many pictures about the works of art. I dont know any comparative. ... Read more

Book Description

The big, bold, seductive, and surprising color photographs of German photographer Andreas Gursky (b. 1955) set forth a stunning image of our contemporary world of high-tech industry, international markets, big-time sports, fast-paced tourism, and slick commerce. This large-format volume—published in conjunction with a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, New York—presents the first in-depth study in English of Gursky’s art.

The most adventurous of the celebrated students of influential German photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Gursky has earned acclaim at the leading edge of contemporary art with a polished signature style that draws upon a great diversity of ideas, precedents, and techniques. Created in collaboration with the artist, this oversize book surveys the fullness of his work to date with gorgeous colorplates, generous two-page details, and a wealth of supporting illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Utterly jaw-dropping
The Andreas Gursky exhibition at MoMA (and beyond) and its attendant book will be remembered as one of the biggest splashes that a photographer has made in the art world in nearly a decade.
His mentors Bernd and Hilla Becher devoted decades to the formulaic documentation of industrial archetypes. Gursky takes a similarly cool precisionist vision and blows it up to satelite simulcast proportions: everything is saturated color, super-scaled and hyper-detailed in this collection of hyper-mega-super-synthetic 'modern world as lurid theme-park' landscapes. His depiction of discount stores, sports arenas, hotel lobbies and stock markets are so crisply rendered that every dollar sign and pock-marked cheek are clearly seen. Images haven't had this kind of imformation density since Jackson Pollock was at his height. Then he follows it with images of such minimalist austerity as to turn a Prada boutique into an object of Zen contemplation. As his work has evolved, Gursky has made increasing use of digital manpulation to clean-up and enhance his environments. But it hardly serves qualify the veracity of these artificial spaces. This is our age with the volume turned to high shriek.

At Last: -a book that does justice to Gursky's work
Again and again, devotees of Gursky's work find themselves struggling to describe the sheer physical impressiveness of his prints. Pristine, perfect and awe-inspiring as they are; they ... in the viewer, challenging one to see more, to make sense of this information overload.

Previous coffee-table monographs on Gursky failed pitifully to convey the experience of viewing his finest work: such as the retrospectives at the Tate Liverpool (UK) or this latest show at MOMA NY -from which this book arises.

This MOMA book succeeds where others have failed: thanks to its designer's skill in taking portions -sometimes very small portions- of Gursky's images and placing them in the book as visual puzzles. They challenge the reader to recognise what they are, from which images -and where they belong. They also serve as an implicit yard-stick. "my God" the reader realises, "if this double page spread is only that tiny part of the whole image, I can imagine just how big and detailed the whole picture must be".

So, if you've not seen Gursky's actual prints yet, then please do: there is no substitute. But -having seen them - this is the only book that will come anywhere near to reminding you of that delightful experience.

Bill Hirst

***Andreas Gursky; Modern Master of Photography***
First you must understand why this book was put together. Peter Galassi, the Museum of Modern Art in New York's Chief Curator in the Department of Photography made this book as a sort of large catalog to accompany the Gursky retrospective which was in May 2001. The Gursky's photos are huge, the exhibition at MOMA was huge and the book is - well, big, but other's will more than likely agree, it could be bigger especially in context to Gursky's work. (12" x 13.5")

Inside you'll find two things Gursky's photos and Peter Galassi's essay. More than likely you'll thumb through the book ogling the photos first, only to find the treasure of Peter's research about Gursky much later. Galassi's writes with authority and intellect as he discusses the "artistic contexts and origins of the work" in detail. In the preface Galassi admits that the introduction is lengthy but is only meant to encourage further study. Indeed, you are curious, you are pulled in. Here is a sample "Andreas Gursky's best pictures of the past decade knock your socks off, and they're meant to. They're big, bold, full of color, and full of surprise. As each delivers its punch, the viewer is already wondering where it came from - and will continue to enjoy the seduction of surprise long after scrutinizing the picture in detail." Galassi continues with bringing non-photo experts up to speed on the environment of the European aesthetic over the past 150 years, with much of the focus being on the 1950'6 - 60's. Fortunately attention has been paid also the Becher's, one of Andreas Gursky's mentors from the Kunstakademie (art academy), as well as the changes that had occurred in the practice of what was being taught there. Influential artists are named and noted and neatly woven into the grand picture. There is more, but for my purposes here, the result is a writing that so thoroughly saturates the history of the artist and his medium, that it is indispensable to the book as a whole. If it were only a book of slick, meticulously composed scenes on a gargantuan scale, it would be just another coffee table book; left to collect dust in some neatly arranged corner.

The discovery of Gursky's photos is a big one. (Quick note, anyone who has ever been remotely associated with graphic design will appreciate the clean lines and layout of text and photos.) Not only is the book highly readable, it looks modern. Pages 43 -186 are entirely the color plates. They are huge. They are fascinating.

I have read a variety of descriptions of Gursky's works, many of them come from very different starting points and all come to the conclusion that he is a master artist. The photos are everything from "...modestly scaled, infallibly exposed, sharply focused images..." and "focus on the recent phase of capitalism, reified leisure, consumerist fantasies and global transformation of production." His works are "complex and labor intensive process", "Olympian" in their "detached observation of setting and stilled activity," and " overwhelmingly dense image(s) rendered with astonishing visual clarity." My point being, that you cannot escape something mesmerizing, which is the view on the world only Gursky can offer. He shoots everything from alpine landscapes to stock exchange rooms, sunsets and shoe racks, rock concerts to factories, all with the same omniscient eye. The result is astonishing; it is a sucker punch. Urbanscapes, which encompass both, views of the micro and the macro, and often render a feeling of disbelief.

There is something in these photos for EVERYONE. Literally in the sense that Gursky has traveled the world to capture these scenes. Figuratively because there is something here that everyone can relate to. Above and beyond shopping for candy, watching a sunset, standing on the mezzanine of a hotel balcony, this work conjures big questions about: commerce, ultra-consumerism, mass development and cultural homogenization, the feeling of being alone in a crowd, great energy spent on insignificant things and more. The conclusions are here for you to discover.

In summary, the book is wonderful. It is eye candy and it is brain candy. In no way is the book a substitute for seeing the artwork, but if you have to take "the next best thing" surely this book is it. I highly recommend this book for students who are actively pursuing a degree or career in photography, for art historians, teachers of art or photography, and anyone interested in social - political - environmental - or spiritual commentary by a modern artist.

Awesome!
The best photo book I've seen in a long time. I only wish the book were bigger.

A Revelation
Every photograph in Andreas Gurskey's book is a revelation. It's not a page turner-you'll linger at length over each photograph's wealth of detail, painterly composition, and absurd landscape. The images in this book have an amazing ability to startle and provoke. They are at once humorous and full of despair, alienating and invigorating. Traveling all over the globe to capture these moments, Gurskey has created a discourse about utopiansism, mass culture, work, consumerism, nature, and modern design. While the reduced size of the photographs (in contrast to the MOMA exhibit) means they lose some of their power, the book is ordered in a way that puts the images in dialogue with each other. And it reads better than any novel I have read in recent memory. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

everything I'd hoped for
This book is much more satisifying than the usual exhibition catalog. It's dense and highly informational, but it's also very tactile and engaging in its presentation. Different paper stocks, postcard-size inserts and lovely puffy cover make it more of an artist's book. I'm so happy with it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In any survey of the art of the second half of this century, Jasper Johns is a central figure. This comprehensive book is the most authoritative and complete book to date on this important North American artist. This lavish volume contains 483 illustrations, including 261 in full color and four foldouts. Johns's entire oeuvre is arranged in sections corresponding to each era of his career in all media--paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints. With its scholarly essays, beautiful color plate reproductions, and extensive bibliography and chronology, this book is sure to become the definitive resource on Jasper Johns. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A magnificent retrospective of this great artist's life work
Did you miss the Johns retrospective at NY MOMA?This book captures the essence of an American Michaelangelo.Subjective?You bet!If you have even the slightest interest in modern art your library is not complete without this retrospective.The many color and b&w photographs are superb, and it is accompanied by a solid chronology of Mr. Johns's life.Emphasis is on original works, but includes a good selection of more important lithographs (I recommend the prints Catalog Raisonne by ULAE if you want a complete reference work in this area).A tour de force by Varnedoe and his editing team! ... Read more

Book Description

A highly anticipated, complete study of the stunning light works by Dan Flavin

Including and augmenting the exhibition catalogue on Dan Flavin’s art (see opposite page), this remarkable book features a complete catalogue of over 750 of the artist’s light works. Presenting all of Flavin’s lights together for the first time, this is the only publication to document the artist’s entire career. Flavin’s art has not been widely reproduced, and this definitive volume includes hundreds of images—featuring exquisite new photography—of well-known pieces as well as many rarely seen and unknown works. Each light work is illustrated by a beautiful color reproduction and/or a graphic diagram. Comprehensive information on each work, including title, date, medium, dimensions, edition, exhibition history, bibliography, and a brief discussion, reveals new insights into the artist’s working methods and provides an invaluable resource for students, scholars, dealers, and collectors.

Tiffany Bell has served as project director of the Dan Flavin catalogue raisonné since 1998; Michael Govan is director of Dia Art Foundation; Earl A. Powell III is director of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Brydon Smith is former curator of twentieth-century art at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; Jeffrey Weiss is head of the department of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

... Read more

Book Description

The Nasser D. Khalili Collection contains an enormous number of historically important objects relating to the fields of Islamic science in astrology, astronomy, medicine, and magic. This volume brings all these subjects together, and provides fascinating insight into the traditions and innovations of scholars and scientists in Islamic cultures. An intriguing and beautiful array of instruments and artefacts are presented here, accompanied by complete descriptions and authoritative essays. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Synopsis
The Nasser D. Khalili Collection contains an enormous number of historically important objects relating to the fields of Islamic science in astrology, astronomy, medicine and magic. This volume brings all thesesubjects together, and provides insight into the traditions and innovationsof scholars and scientists in Islamic cultures. An array of instruments andartefacts are presented, accompanied by complete descriptions andauthoritative essays. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fabulous Book of Gorgeous French Art!
I have had the pleasure of visiting the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. If you ever have the chance to go, I highly recommend it. I spent three wonderful days in the Hermitage and would have been content going back every day for the rest of my vacation. Although some museums surpass the Hermitage in their collections (surprisingly few), none has fewer visitors per masterpiece. It was not unusual to be alone in a room of Van Goghs for 30 minutes at a time. The lightly guarded museum does not even have a security guard in every room. So the experience of the museum is a wonderfully intimate one.

If you never go to St. Petersburg, you must get and read this outstanding work about the French art from 1860 to 1950. Most of these works do not travel very much, so you won't see them otherwise. That would be a terrible shame, because many significant works, especially the Matisses and Gauguins, from this period are in the collection.

How did such a great French art collection find its way to Russia? That's an interesting story, and the book begins with a long essay about that. Although the Czar and the nobility had always collected art, this period of French art was not very appealing to them. A new merchant class had grown up, and they embraced advanced art from France (beyond the salon portraits the nobles commissioned) that became known as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. After the Communists firmed up their hold on Russia, museums were consolidated and private collections were expropriated. You will enjoy seeing black and white photographs from the many private museums that these business people sponsored. The Shchukin and Morozov collections form an important base for this collection, as well as having provided important support for these French artists before they were well established.

In most art books, not enough of the reproductions are in color. This book is the exception. The reproductions are essentially all in color. There are 433 of them in color. They are also done in large sizes in many cases, which makes it easier to appreciate them.

The Hermitage is particularly rich is works by Matisse and Picasso, and these are presented in depth in this book. You will also find lots of Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin, Degas, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Bartholome. Outstanding examples of works by lesser known artists round out the collection in a way that will give you a different sense of the period than you get at the Musee D'Orsay or the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Albert Kostenevich is by far the world's authority on these works, as their primary curator for over 30 years. No one else has had nearly as much access or incentive to study them. He has written several fine, detailed essays that relate the works to each other and explain the works. In fact, this is better than going to the Hermitage because you would not have him at your side to explain things there.

And, naturally, if you have been to the Hermitage, this book makes a fabulous souvenir. Treat yourself today!

After enjoying this wonderful book, ask yourself, what other outstanding art collections have I not yet seen? Even if you cannot visit them, there may well be a book on the collection that you can order from Amazon.com!

... Read more

Book Description

Renowned as the largest art gallery in the world, the Prado houses sculptures, drawings, coins, and other works of art--but it is its incomparable collection of paintings which has drawn fame worldwide. Included in its store of more than 8,600 paintings are works by members of the Italian, Flemish, Spanish, French, Dutch, and German schools. Albrecht Dürer, Anton van Dyck, Correggio, El Greco, Goya, Hieronymous Bosch, José de Ribera, Lucas Cranach, Nicolas Poussin, Pieter Brueghel, Rafael, Rembrandt, Rogier van der Veyden, Rubens, Sandro Botticelli, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Tiziano, Velázquez, and nearly every other master painter from the 12th to the 20th century. The history of the Prado began during the reign of Charles III, when he tried to create a single collection under one roof, but it did not really concretize as an institution until the reign of Fernando VII, under whom the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture was founded in 1819. King Fernando's death caused inheritance problems and endangered the unity of the collection, but with the disapearance of the Spanish monarchy, the museum became national property and was renamed the Prado Museum. Only a tenth of the Prado's immense collection of works are normally on show at any one time in the museum's two buildings: the Villanueva and the Casón del Buen Retiro, but this will soon change. Architect Rafael Moneo has designed a plan to join the existing neo-classical building with two nearby historical buildings, the cloister of the San Jerónimo church and a 17th-century palace, by buried passageways, and has included a 400-seat underground auditorium as well. Completion of the project is scheduled for October 2003.

Edited by Santiago Alcolea.

Clothbound, 416 pages, 318 color and 24 b&w images. ... Read more

Book Description

Jackson Pollock is widely considered the most challenging and influential American artist of the 20th century. In his revolutionary paintings of the late 1940s, he dripped paint into complex webs of interlacing lines, rhythmically punctuated by pools of color. With their allover composition, apparent abstraction, and spontaneous but controlled paint handling, these powerful works announced the emergence of Abstract Expressionism. This sumptuously illustrated book offers a fresh overview of his achievement, reinterpreted for a new generation and features a complete visual record of the artist's work, including over 200 color reproductions of paintings, drawings, and prints, enhanced by life-sized details, foldouts, and documentary photographs. An essay by Kirk Varnedoe explores Pollock's life, the mythology that so quickly grew up around him as the prototypical "action painter", and the different critical schools that have tried to lay claim to his legacy. Pepe Karmel offers new insight into Pollock's famous "drip" technique, as revealed by an intensive, computer-assisted study of photographs and films of Pollock at work. This volume was published to accompany the first major survey of the artist's careersince 1967, held in 1998 at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Edited and with Essays by Kirk Varnedoe and Pepe Karmel
Foreword by Glenn D. Lowry. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

THIS BOOK OFFERS GREAT INSIGHT INTO POLLOCK'S ARTISTIC MIND
________________________________________________________________________________________________

I purchased this book when it first came out and refer back to it often. A person could spend hours at a time pouring over the plates and fold-out pictures (pun intended). Not only does this particular book provide the best collection of absolutely superb quality Jackson Pollock reproductions that I'm aware of, but the narrative is extremely well written and essential to understanding many things regarding Pollock's thought process and artistic technique.

Pepe Karmel's chapter imparticular, in which he analyzes Hans Namuth's photographs, is nothing less than brilliant detective work. I found it fascinating to find that underlying the lacy layers of at least one of Pollock's drip paintings are figurative images which he made within a narrative context. Although the complete details of this "narrative" may never be fully known, Pepe speculates that Pollock may have been acting out the destruction of some of his inward demons by first physically acknowledging and creating them and then systematically covering them within the confines of the finished painting. I'll leave it to you to get the book and both read and see for yourself all of the findings which include the deciphering of some of the figures and their meanings. With this discovery, the creation of the painting involved (Number 27, 1950) becomes not only a very strenuous and at once both spontaneous and preplanned action - but a true "ritual." Was he destroying these figures or merely absorbing them into a larger and more complex environment? We'll probably never know all the details. I wonder if Pollock would have disclosed answers to these questions had he been confronted with them during his life? Perhaps this would have been too personal. But maybe he did confide the details of what he was doing to someone and another good researcher might come across a total revelation in a hidden diary someday. I'm sure this is just wishful thinking on my part, but how I love a good mystery!

simply the best
This breathtaking catalogue is simply the best single volume available on Jackson Pollock, and this is primarily--but not only--because of the number and quality of the reproductions it offers. Almost every one of the dozen or so Pollock books in my library contains a painting not available in the others, but this book collects and beautifully photographs the greatest number and variety of his canvases--outside of a catalogue raisonee.

As the other reviewers state, there are many generously-sized fold-out pages here, and the crispness and resolution of these big reprints and of the more modest pages are simply amazing. To take two essential examples, this book's reprints of "One: Number 31, 1950" and "Blue Poles: Number 11, 1952" are astoundingly clear, better than any of the many other versions I've seen in art books, even in Ellen Landau's large-format survey, a book which also includes gatefolds.

(Another reviewer, by the by, states that "Lucifer" is not available in any other book, which is not true. Among other places, it appears in Landau, in Elizabeth's Frank's concise volume, and as the sole color reproduction in the book for the 1965 MOMA retrospective. Anyway, it gets terrific treatment here.)

Another invaluable inclusion in this book is a great number of full-sized detail photos of the canvases. For example, on a page adjacent to "Lucifer" and "Autumn Rhythm" and "Full Fathom Five," we see another photo of just one small section of that same painting but in 1-to-1 scale; these details reveal much of the dynamic, kinetic, urgent quality of these works, their encrustations of sand, glass, pennies, paint caps--traits which even this book could otherwise never offer a livingroom Pollock-viewer.

Further, having seen the exhibit in January of 1999, I can attest to the generally excellent fidelity of the color-balance. (Curiously, no one seems to be able to capture "Autumn Rhythm"'s grey-teal passages in a book, but if you were at this show or have viewed the painting at the Met you've seen them.)

The accompanying articles are excellent. Kirk Varnedoe overviews of Pollock's life, artistic aims, his accomplishments, all illustrated with family and archival photographs and drawing on Pollock quotations. Pepe Karmel uses the extensive photographic and film record of Pollock painting to analyze Pollock's physical movements. Most wonderful are Karmel's computer reconstructions of early states of the painting "Autumn Rythm," based on Hans Namuth's photos of Pollock at work.

In sum, this book gives the finest, fullest offering of both Pollock's life and art.

Best Reproductions and Most Complete
I picked this book up at the MOMA Pollock retrospective a couple years ago and have used it extensively. Having seen many of the paintings in this book firsthand, I can say that these are some of the best reproductions offerred in book form on Pollock's work. Another plus is that several paintings are printed on fold-out pages, so that the work doesn't cross the book's seam. So many of his paintings are extremely wide that this makes a lot of sense (otherwise, there would be hardly any resolution in the height dimension).

If you're interested in Pollock and need to refer to the reproductions, I absolutely recommend this book above all others out there.

Pollock Without the Boring Mythologizing
Excellent companion piece to the MOMA show (which traveled to London's Tate) goes beyond all other Pollock explorations. A "must" for students of modern American art as well as those just wanting to get a better understanding of what Pollock was REALLY DOING.

Large format features fold-out reproductions of breathtakingly high quality. Among these, incredibly, are paintings not found in any other published sources. (The incomparable Lucifer (1947) is one such work).

The text is scholarly but readable, and although there is a considerable amount of it, each open page of writing offers at least a couple relevant and highly interesting photos or other illustrations. The many large color plates would certainly make a gorgeous and impressive coffee table book for anyone who doesn't choose to read it.

Kirk Varnedoe writes definitively about Pollock's mercurial life & career. Varnedoe's nearly 75 pages of biographical analysis are a welcome alternative to the kind of misguided mythologizing about Pollock that has for a long time colored the artist as an overrated art "star."

Pepe Karmel's contribution to this book is an amazing analysis of Pollock's painting process through an exhaustive examination of the famous films and photographs of Pollock at work. This was a fascinating, ground-breaking part of the exhibition, and is equally wonderful in the book.

Well worth the price.

Very good overview of the MoMA exhibition
Having just taken in the MoMA show, I was very satisfied with the Pollock catalog. Very nice job reproducing the works (a difficult task in the printing of art catalogs!) Many fold-outs assist in conveying the size of Pollock's larger works. Large, full-bleed detail shots add a nice touch, complimenting the entire painting. While I'm not thrilled with the cover design, the interior is well-written, well-presented, and well-worth reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Lacquer is one of the most important artistic traditions of Burma - and also a living craft. Frequently used to decorate vessels of great style and variety, it is also important in the embellishment of architecture, furniture and musical instruments, in the making of sculpture and even in the Burmese theater. A natural plastic, refined from the sap of a tree, lacquer can be used to elaborate almost any surface, and its visual impact can be stunning - objects are dazzlingly colored, often in scarlet, gold and black, and are frequently inlaid with colored glass to produce an effect of shimmering irridescence.

Until now, Burmese art generally - let along this important branch - has been little studied. This beautifully illustrated book features some 200 items which demonstrate the skill of the Burmese lacquer-craftsman. Many of these came from a recent gift to the British Museum, the Ruth and Ralph Isaacs Collection, while others from national, regional and private collections. A series of essays examines the history of Burmese lacquer, the methods of production, the wide regional variations, the inscriptions found on many of the vessels (a new and important area of study), the role of lacquer vessels in the ubiquitous betel habit, and the Buddhist context of many of the objects. ... Read more

Book Description

Vienna at the dawn of the twentieth century was a city like no other—filled with avant-garde artists and bursting with intellectual and sensual energy. But this burgeoning society was constantly at odds with the conservative and often disapproving nineteenth-century culture. This fascinating book focuses on the figures at the center of this controversy: Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and others whose radical artistic expressions were shocking as well as ground-breaking. This generously illustrated volume examines the numerous levels on which the new culture clashed with the old, including sexuality, power, and religion. It analyzes the impact these artists’ works had on their surroundings, and places them in an historical context that illuminates the social and cultural debate they instigated. It also explores why art that seemed so provocative at its conception now represents a standard of excellence for the modern audience. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

exceptional art, outstanding text, superb publishing work
Scholars speak regularly of Utamaro, Hokusai, and Hiroshige as the giants of the 18th and 19th-century woodblock-printing ("ukiyoe") tradition in Japan. Even so, for legions of "ukiyoe" fans, especially those in the West, nobody can match Kuniyoshi for the complexity of his drafting, drama of his compositions, and range of subject matter. And no publisher could have outdone Hotei, a Leiden-based company, in so beautifully reproducing Kuniyoshi's work and so meticulously explaining it in both introductory essays and individual plate captions.

Robert Schaap's "Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi" is one of three volumes Hotei has issued on the work of this artist. Of the three volumes, it is most wide-ranging in scope, and therefore "Heroes and Ghosts" is the logical book with which to begin your acquantaince with Kuniyoshi. Because the book accompanied a 1998 exhibition organized by subject category, the sequencing of illustrations will not readily provide a sense of how Kuniyoshi's work evolved. Still, there is much to fascinate here, and this is a book and an artist that have so much to offer that numerous readings will not begin to exhaust the rich possibilities for drawing out new information and gaining new insights.

Because I am passionately interested in the legends and historical events that were reflected in Japanese art of the Edo period (1615-1868), my favorite section is that on "heroes;" happily this is also the most extensive segment of the book. It is just such heroic compositions for which Kuniyoshi is most famous, and these pieces offer the richest linkages between literature and art and the most action-packed of Kuniyoshi's compositions. Moreover, this body of work is notable because Kuniyoshi's manner of depicting these heroes set the style that continues to define Japanese tattooing.

A true treasure...
...for all those who are in love with Ukiyo-e. You don't necessarily need to like Kuniyoshi - though he is one of the most versatile and skilled masters of Ukiyo-e - to like this book. Its quality speaks for itself. Just beautifully made! Great prints, detailed comments on them and in-depth information on Kuniyoshi and his time. Go and get it! ... Read more

Book Description

Because launching a new museum or expanding an already existing one can be a daunting task, it is imperative that you have sound advice. "Starting Right" provides this guidance in a handbook that was designed to explain the basics of museum planning in an evening's reading. Free of technical jargon, "Starting Right" defines what a museum is, both philosophically and historically, discusses the pros and cons of establishing your museum, outlines where to get help, and proffers advice on all aspects of museums from the choice of a building through collections care, registration, exhibitions, conservation, staffing, financial management and fund raising. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Starting Right, A Basic Guide to Museum Planning
This is an excellent "how to do it" guide if you are considering establishing a museum in your community. It is easy to read, and gives very specific guidlines to determine if your museum plan is feasible from both financial and community support considerations. If so, there are specific steps (from writing a mission statement to establishing a collections policy) to follow for prudent setup and running of a successful museum. Additional resources are listed for each step along the way. ... Read more

Book Description

This book illustrates and discusses 35 of the finest paintings by Dou, one of the most highly regarded Dutch painters of the 17th century.Dou learned glass painting from his father and in 1628 became Rembrandt's first pupil.After some early portraits, he painted chiefly small domestic scenes characterized by minute detail (often painted under a magnifying glass), skillful chiaroscuro, and lifelike effect.Dou's work was very popular and continued to be influential until the mid-19th century when appreciation for precision in painting declined under the influence of impressionism.This will be a beautifully produced catalogue that will introduce the works of Gerrit Dou to a wider audience. ... Read more

Book Description

Galleries, dealers, and artists' reps who need to understand the law to deal successfully with business issues faced every day in their field can rely on this dependable, updated edition for complete guidance. Written by an esteemed arts lawyer and lecturer, the book covers all legal aspects of a gallery business from trademarks and copyright to contracts, consignments, taxes, product liability, advertising, catalog sales, and customer relations saving the reader thousands of dollars in attorney's fees. The author also advises how to find a good lawyer if one is needed. ... Read more