Book Description

Agnes Martin has spent every morning for the past 40 years working in her New Mexico studio, producing square abstract paintings that consist of graphite horizontal lines across fields of white, gray, or pale colors. Though her work superficially belongs to the history of Minimalism, Martin considers her paintings the abstract expression of positive inner states of existence. Published on the occasion of her 90th birthday, this catalogue presents the iconic serenity and elegant geometry of her canvasses from the past decade, in a format complimentary to Martin's own immutable aesthetic.
Essay by Ned Rifkin.

8.5 x 9 in.
50 color, 10 b/willustrations ... Read more

Book Description

This beautiful book examines the art of Pieter de Hooch, one of the most famous and innovative painters of Holland's Golden Age. It discusses de Hooch's position in Dutch genre painting, his favorite themes and their cultural context, his artistic development, and his approach to narration.

The book is the catalogue for an exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford

Published in association with the Wadsworth Atheneum

. ... Read more

Book Description

Marc Chagall is one of the 20th century's favorite artists, known and admired for his rich palette, his inventive approach, his accessible subjects, and the deep traditions behind his work. Combining fantasy, spirituality, and nostalgia with a distinctive modern painting style, Chagall's canvases are infused with a joyous, dreamlike simplicity. Even as styles shifted from Cubism to Suprematism to Surrealism, his work remained individual and idiosyncratic-sometimes harming his art world reputation, but never his popular appeal.

Marc Chagall is the first full-scale survey of the artist's work in almost 20 years. The lush color reproductions include some 60 paintings and 80 works on paper. An introductory essay by Jean-Michel Foray contextualizes the Russian-born artist's work, while a heavily illustrated chronology of Chagall's life-put together by his granddaughter and Jakov Bruk-details the many stages of his career. The work is organized into four sections, each with an introduction by Foray, to help make sense of his prodigious oeuvre. The beautifully designed volume accompanies a major retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. ... Read more

Book Description

Amedeo Modigliani (1884--1920) is one of the greatest-and most misunderstood-artists of the twentieth century. His incisive portraits, erotically charged nudes, beautiful drawings, and primitivistic sculpture have been admired for decades. Modigliani's work, however, has typically been examined in the limited context of his so-called "bohemian," anti-intellectual lifestyle. This groundbreaking book revises this approach toward Modigliani's art, presenting a convincing revisionist examination of the unique historical, social, religious, and cultural significance of his oeuvre.Modigliani: Beyond the Myth looks at the artist and his art from a variety of important perspectives: his proud heritage as a Sephardic Jew, whose spirituality embraced non-Western, classical, and Christian iconography while retaining his own ethnic identity; his critical engagement with the dialogues of the most radical of his avant-garde contemporaries (Picasso, Chaim Soutine, Henri Matisse, and Brancusi); the influence of tribal art and Judaism on his portraiture; the representation of the female nude in his works from a feminist cultural perspective; and the remarkable reception of his work in Italy during his lifetime. Lavishly illustrated and including a detailed chronology of his life, this fascinating book situates Modigliani anew in the history of twentieth-century art.BACKCOVER: ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Most Beautiful Book in the World
One must actually see large color plates or the Book of Kells itself to know what all reviewers are talking about, when they, like myself, call this book "the most beautiful book in the world." It is really incredible, a most fascinating and comprehensive piece of work from an ancient period of time. And has life changed so very much since then? Reading this book with many descriptive illustrations, one might know.

To really understand the incredible drawings, also purchase the newly released video "The Book of Kells - The Work of Angels?" which tells what the illustrations were about and how they were created... many of the designs date from the Celtic gold work that was done at the time, and there are many interesting stories about life in the abbey, political intrigues, and other goings-on during this period of time.

This has been a favorite gift of mine to give to many people, who have seen the book in person in Ireland, but never really knew what it meant, until they saw the tape. The two go hand-in-hand together, and are worth any price.

There is also a new CD out with Kells images as well, which may well be worth purchasing ...

The original 1974 large edition book in a fabric slip case is the one I saved up all year for when I was a very poor college student, and started my life-long love of calligraphy.

This book is well worth any price, when Inspiration is your need or your calling.

A book worth looking for
Though it is now out of print, this book has over 100 color prints from the Book of Kells and is one defininitely looking for. The essays raise some interesting points, though not the most current points of dispute among scholars. The book would be wonderful for students, copyists, or anyone interested in a beautiful presentation of information on the most ornate of insular manuscripts.

Beautiful Book
A beautifully illustrated book, finely detailed, a wonderful source of inspiration for those interested in illuminated manuscripts and Celtic decorative art. Author Henry's years of research are evident: she knows her subject well. A lovely study of this original c. 9th century manuscript, often described as "the most beautiful book in the world."

Beautiful and detailed
An absolutely incredible facsimile of the Book of Kells (BoK). An essential for those who study Celtic Illumination. Pages are (very close to) original color and size and the detail shown is wonderful. Also the author's commentary is very good. I can't rave enough about this book, well worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

Keith Parkinson's work is immediately recognized as some of the finest in the field of fantasy art. A long-time collaborator to the work of author Terry Goodkind, Keith has been able to conjure images for such works as Elflord, Dark Island, Dragonring, Demon Hunter, and many more. Now a collected volume of Keith's works are available in a showcase worthy of his art. With a foreword and additional commentary by Terry Goodkind, Parkinson gives you a gloriously detailed view of his imagination, with superb reproduction and high-quality stock. ... Read more

Book Description

Critical acclaim for the first season of the award-winning public television series: "When the artists do the talking, something fascinating happens."-New York Times

"Candidly captured in their raw elements, the artists welcome us, one-on-one, into their complicated, intimate lives."-Artbyte

Published to accompany the second season in PBS's acclaimed television series, this richly illustrated book offers a unique glimpse into the life stories, sources of inspiration, and creative processes of some of the most interesting artists now working in America. The 16 artists, interviewed here by Susan Sollins, executive producer of the TV series, are shown in their homes and studios talking about their work, which is grouped under four general themes-Stories, Loss and Desire, Humor, and Time.

Continuing the innovative approach that won the first season's programs an Emmy nomination and the prestigious Golden Hugo Award for "the best in international television," the next four programs-and this companion book-span varied mediums to reveal the full breadth of the visual arts in today's America. ... Read more

Book Description

Take a close look at 84 quilts from arouond the world that were selected for the 1993 Quilt National exhibit. ... Read more

Book Description

This celebration of Naga culture, art, music, and way of life is the first comprehensive examination of the tribes that comprise the "World of the Naga." It contains a wealth of never-before-published images of Naga artworks from museums and private collections.

For centuries the Naga, composed of more than 30 individual tribes, have lived in relative isolation in the mountainous area of Northeast India upper Burma. This magnificent book explores the art and culture of the Naga peoples living in a remote region known as the "Last Great Mystery of Asia." Looking beyond the Nagas’ past as fierce headhunters, it focuses on their unique way of life that rarely separates the spiritual from the social. Images of important festivals and ceremonies reveal a proud people whose animist beliefs and shamanic practices are displayed in gorgeous artwork, jewelry, costumes, traditional architecture and musical instruments. ... Read more

Book Description

Yes, it's shocking and sensational and makes headlines, but is it art? What happened to beauty and loveliness? Modern works by "Brit Brats" and other explosive artists are explored in this knowing book that combines hard art historical information with refreshingly candid, wonderfully readable reflections on today's dynamic art scene.

Each of six chapters becomes a journey, a tour around the world to art galleries, museums, and artists' studios, a trip back and forth in time-from the earliest heroic beginnings of modern art to the circuslike atmosphere of Sensation, the famous/infamous exhibition seen recently by record-breaking museum crowds on both sides of the Atlantic. These gorgeously illustrated rides are by turns smooth, surprising, alarming, but they are always informative and entertaining in answering such essential questions as: Will future generations accept today's art as a vivid expression of how life was really lived during the 1990s? Or will they scratch their heads and wonder how we could have put up with such stuff-how we could have valued it as art? ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It's like taking a cold shower on a sultry fetid day
As an antidote to art jargon that passes as "writing" whether in ART FORUM or in catalogues, Mr Collings' book is a refreshing RELIEF. Well illustrated examples which illuminate his arguments, clear division into six sections, and an open-endedness to many issues make this a very enjoyable and informative read for the lay person who loves art. I'm immediately passing it on to one of the people I value most in the world - my 17 year old son. Is there a better recommendation?

Is it all a joke
This is very idiosyncratic look at art today, and in it, Matthew Collings chooses several issues about art to discuss: Shock, beauty, emptiness of meaning, humor, and the present. His writing can be annoying, sounding almost like Warhol in his "Philosophy of Andy Warhol" with short, witty, curious phrases, and a distant, ironic humor that can sound condescending or careless. Still, it turns out to be insightful and entertaining, and even informative. It isn't that you learn something profound about how to see art or understand it. Rather, it's like having a conversation (albeit one way) about art and particular artworks with someone who has a lot of knowledge about art and is often very perceptive. Along the way, you learn about recent artists such as Chris Ofili, Sigmar Polke, and Richard Prince, as well as past artists like Pollock, Picasso, and Goya. The pictures are good too. But it's just a fun look into the issues that modern (or post-modern) art tries to tackle, and some things to think about the next time you visit a modern art museum. Again, it's idiosyncratic and personal, so it's only one person's take on artists and art.

It's good but ...
'This is Modern Art' is a book accompanying the ch.4 TV series of the same name, and this fact became all too obvious after I purchased it. The text does not read well: it seems as though the publishers have lifted Matthew Collins' voice-over from the TV programmes and transcribed it directly onto the pages of the book. Sure, there are plenty of nice photorgraphs and the tone is lively and informative, but reading the book - actually reading the text - is a strange experience as the words on the page do not work as words on a page: I kept wanting to read aloud and listen to myself speaking. The book is full of phrases and sentence construction that is made for the ear, not text that has been written to be read.
The TV series was very good, but sadly this book is too close to a script of that series - and not what it should be: a BOOK about Modern Art.

Of Course This Is A Great Book, And Here's Why...
... I was a bit perplexed to discover accusations of "bias" [by others]. What were people expecting? The evening news? Journalism? Collings approaches his subject - the evolution of modern art and the context of contemporary British artists - from an informed, but highly personal point of view. Pretty much like Clement Greenburg or Robert Hughes or any of the other hundreds of critics with a case to make... Collings's writing is witty, erudite and can, in the turn of one sentence or a single carefully chosen word, create an entirely new way of looking at familiar art works. Not everyone is going to agree that Basquiat is great or that certain UK artists aren't very good - but what the hell - it's just one man's opinion. In light of the orthodox, conservative and sometimes downright reactionary points of view put forward by tv art critics and book authors, Collings is a fresh voice with something to say. That's very rare in any writer and, in the art world, as rare as genius itself.

This Is Modern Art. Most definitely.
This book is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in the exploding modern art scene.

Collings is based in London, and with it's recently opened Tate Modern museum of Contemporary Art the content of this book seems even more appropriate.

Irreverant, humorous, fact-packed, entertaining and controversial, this book will lead you from Klein to Hirst to Picasso and back on a non-stop, roller coaster ride. Buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're a fan, your bookshelf is crying out for Andy Warhol: 365 Takes. And if you're not, this artfully designed volume may very well turn you into one. Read it straight through or dip in anywhere. Either way, you get an illustrated tour of Warhol's friends, lovers, personal history and obsessions (shoes, religion, jewels, mortality), as well as his art. Organized in a vaguely thematic way that blithely ignores chronology, this compact volume serves up a four-decade feast of creativity in bite-size nuggets: a very Warholian approach. Facing pages juxtapose a Warhol image with a well-chosen morsel of text. Drawn from diverse sources, including The Andy Warhol Diaries, the texts illuminate the images with useful tidbits of insider information. Reproductions of Warhol's work reveal his extraordinary range and inventiveness, from the delicate, lyrical drawing for a jazz record cover from the 1950s to rueful self-portrait photos in drag from the early 1980s. Of course, much of the famous work is here as well—the Death and Disaster Series, the Brillo boxes, the Three Marilyns, the celebrity portraits of the 1070s, the collaborations with the Velvet Underground. One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the way it uses Warhol's vast personal collection of ephemera to show how a newspaper headline, shop window or movie star magazine could inform the look of his art. This great compendium of Warholiana is marred only by the occasionally smug, fanzine tone of remarks by The Andy Warhol Museum staff. There’s no need to overstate the case for Warhol; his outsized reputation is secure. —-Cathy Curtis ... Read more

Book Description

Although Picasso's masterful and often witty treatment of newsprint spanned most of his artistic career, until now, with the exception of the period of the papiers colls (1912-14), it has remained a largely unexplored area of his creative genius. From an early age Picasso was fascinated with newspaper, having written and produced his own family newspaper at just thirteen. He developed a fascination for the newspaper as object, with all its ordinariness and popularity. As his career progressed, Picasso used newspaper as much for its visual as for its physical qualities - as material in collage, as the support for large-scale line drawings, or, in combination with its printed photographs, for dramatic and often playfully grotesque sketches. Newspaper cuttings and headlines later became influential in Picasso's experimentation with Surrealism, and remained a primary material in his painting, sculpture and printmaking throughout the rest of his career. Much of this work has remained unpublished until now.

Anne Baldassari explores the political ramifications of Picasso's use of newspaper reports - including those on the Spanish Civil War and Guernica - and shows how his work on newsprint made use of what the text said as much as what it looked like. During the Occupation of France, using newsprint as a support became a pretext for the defacement of Nazi propaganda, and Picasso was always ready to transform apparently innocuous press photographs into sometimes comic, sometimes disturbing burlesques of personal, political or sexual life - and often all three at once. He subverted the press, using his scissors, ink, pencil and paint to make his own meanings.

For Picasso, art was inextricably tied to the 'real', and newspapers, essential to the social construction of reality, could not have been more appropriate a medium for his radical reassessment of the relationship between art and its immediate context. Nearly 200 of these intriguing works and documents, mainly from the artist's own archive, are brought together here for the first time in this elegantly designed volume, which examines the enduring fascination that the most ephemeral of printed productions held for the most extraordinary and influential artist of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the most comprehensive publication ever produced on the work of American artist Barbara Kruger. Kruger, one of the most influential artists of the last three decades, uses pictures and words through a wide variety of media and sites to raise issues of power, sexuality, and representation. Her works include photographic prints on paper and vinyl, etched metal plates, sculpture, video, installations, billboards, posters, magazine and book covers, T-shirts, shopping bags, postcards, and newspaper op-ed pieces.

This book serves as the catalog for the first major one-person exhibition of Kruger's work to be mounted in the United States. The book, designed by Lorraine Wild in collaboration with the artist, contains texts by Rosalyn Deutsche, Katherine Dieckmann, Ann Goldstein, Steven Heller, Gary Indiana, Carol Squiers, and Lynne Tillman on subjects associated with Kruger's work, including photography, graphic design, public space, power, and representation, as well as an extensive exhibition history, bibliography, and checklist of the exhibition. The cover features a new piece by Kruger, entitled Thinking of You,created especially for the catalog.

The exhibition was organized by Ann Goldstein, curator at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Copublished with The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE:

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
October 17, 1999-February 13, 2000

Whitney Museum of American Art
New York City
July 13-October 22, 2000 ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A bold, thought-provoking dossier of collected images
For those unaware of Barbara Kruger herself, her images will surely be familiar. Bold, seemingly simple and effortless combinations of black and white images, many culled from '50s magazines, and thought-provoking text catch the viewer off-guard and make one think hard about exactly what the artist is saying. Her themes range broadly over the spectrum of social disenfranchisement and human rights, focussing especially on women's issues. This book is a fantastic dossier of her collected images from the last few decades. They remind the reader anew of her potency as a critic of the patriarchal culture, and lose none of their impact when reproduced on a scale smaller than the original. Interspersed with essays charting the impact of her work, this catalogue provides copious illustrations of all aspects of her work. Many images are familiar, but also included are newer pieces, eg her later sculptural work, and other items of interest such as magazine layouts and book covers. At about one inch thick, the book is surprisingly light, all the better to carry around - after picking it up, you won't want to put it down! For those who have never encountered Barbara Kruger, this is an excellent, even exhaustive, place to begin. For those who know her work already, read this now and rediscover her brilliance.

Subversive Masterpiece
"Thinking of You" is an amazing look into the mind of Barbara Kruger, an artist that challenges the viewer's concepts of reality. Most of her work consists of a photo (usually black and white) with text juxtaposed on it. The book also contains explanatory notes on selected works and essays about the artist. Her work is very philosophical and subversive. A must-have for anyone who thinks outside the box. ... Read more

Book Description

Beadazzled by the beautiful beadwork of far-off lands? The rich mix of culturally diverse seed bead patterns found in this book will satisfy the young beginner, the advanced worker and the holiday giftmaker.Projects result in elegant, beautiful and surprisingly fashionable pieces of jewelry you would be proud to wear on any occasion.From Zulus to Guaymis, from Guatemala to Egypt, here are large graphic illustrations of the threading patterns for a wide range of beautiful seed bead jewelry, from simple Y necklaces to elaborate Romanian collars;several original designs are provided as well. This book is a must for crafters working with seed beads, providing many useful design concepts in its patterns for necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, belts, pouches and headbands.The Methods and Materials section is comprehensive and full of useful hints for working with seed beads in general, from how to set up a workspace and lay out a design, to what to do when ! a flaw is found in a finished piece.Clear concise instructions alongside the diagrams ensure a good understanding of each project.

The book starts out with two simples necklaces, then zooms into space with starry holiday patterns for 10 minute earrings, a necklace and bracelet.Then it's on to snowflake patterns that show how to incorporate medallions into earrings, bracelets and necklaces.Next are simple chain link patterns that turn into beautiful flower chokers.Native American patterns for flower and leaf necklaces, as well as friendship bracelets and a flowing ripple necklace, follow. After a braided headband, simple daisy chain patterns are presented, along with showing how to turn them into wide flowery band bracelets and a daisy purse.Elaborate patterns for a very regal necklace and colorful Romanian collars follow.The last patterns of the book show how to make a wide colorful Guaymi collar, a Zulu belt, a Princess necklace that will enchant little and big girls alike, netted triangle necklaces, and a Moorish necklace of netted diamonds.A cultural cornucopia of jewelry truly to be enjoyed! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great for beginners to intermediates
I really liked this book. I dot this book near the beginning of my beading career and find that I still refer to it regularly to refresh my memory on beading methodology. It is an easy to follow guide that has easier projectss for beginners, as well as more time-consuming and difficult projects for the more advanced beader. I love these designs, and one design can be used over and over in different bead colors. As you become more comforatble with them, you can make your own variations and build upon what they have shown you. I definetly recommend this book to everyone interested in jewelry beading.

Great book for the first time beader!
This book has easy to read diagrams. The projects start simple and expand into a more complex types of projects. (daisy chains to wide bead woven laces) Great for any beginner!

Plenty to choose from
This is a very slender book, only 34 pages of photos and instructions. Seven pages of colored photos, including the cover, show an average of six projects per page, making a good number of projects to choose from. All of the designs use seed beads and other small beads strung on thread, with simple clasps added to the ends. Instructions are not included on how to add clasps, so you'll need to learn how to do that from another source.

The designs include a wonderful variety of necklaces, bracelets and earrings, ranging from sweet and delicate to large, complex, and dramatic. The cover photo gives a good idea of the variety of projects inside, and even if you just find a few that you want to do, it would be worth the low price of the book.

The instructions are okay. They are written in paragraph form, which makes it difficult to find your place again when returning to read them. I'd prefer the instructions written as Step 1, Step 2, etc. to make them easier to read, but the drawn diagrams showing how the thread passes through the beads are very good; they are large and easy to follow.

One little problem is that none of the instructions tell you on which page to find the photo of the corresponding project, so you have to look through the book to find it. To solve this, on each instruction page I wrote the page number on which to find the appropiate photo. Otherwise, I think this is a very good investment for people who like the intricate work with seed beads.

Wonderful Diagrams
This book was an excellent learning source. I found the directions very easy to follow.

For Novice, Intermediate and Advanced Beaders Alike
I found the book to be well organized and the illustrations helpful.

I would suggest a basic knowledge of beading, but it's not necessary. A lot of patience for beginners is helpful.

I have completed 1 project from the book and it was well received as a gift for a family member.

I highly recommend her other book too. ... Read more

Book Description

El Greco (1541-1614), born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, was one of the most fascinating and distinctive artists of the sixteenth century.His works are immediately recognizable for their brilliant colors, elongated figures, and spiritual intensity.Initially trained in Crete, in around 1567 El Greco moved to Italy where he purportedly studied with Titian. A decade later he is documented in Toledo (south of Madrid), and he spent the rest of his long life in Spain. His paintings and writings offer a thoughtful, frequently inspired response to the varied environments in which he worked-and they reveal that he was deeply engaged with the religious and artistic thinking of his times.This lavishly illustrated book-the first comprehensive English-language publication on El Greco in many years-addresses the full range of the artist's work in painting and sculpture, from his Byzantine icons to his late altarpieces. It considers his personality from both a religious and intellectual point of view, and presents the artist's religious, mythological, genre, landscape, and portrait works, providing the historical context in which they were made. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Beautiful Collection
It is about time that a book come out on the brillian artist that is Domenikos Theonopolis! Ever since I visited Spain in 1994 I have been an avid fan of El Greco but sadly have been unable to find any books on him until now. This is a wonderful book celebrating the prolific works of this genius. It is a beautiful collection full of amazingly colored images and information about El Greco. Whether an avid fan or just wanting to learn more about this artist, this book is an excellent resource. ... Read more

Book Description

An illustrated journey through the intricate details of ethnic dress, this sumptuous volume showcases an extraordinary range of traditional clothing from Central Europe, India, and the Far East. Ornate buttons, embroidered borders, architectural pleating, gold-threaded tassels: 150 color photographs, many specially commissioned, spotlight an astounding array of ornamentation, and these breathtaking close-ups are coupled with accurate line drawings of each garment's underlying structure.

Arranged thematically, the chapters bring together different examples of each type of decoration from disparate cultures, and the text includes information about the ceremonial roles of much of the clothing. The latest addition to the esteemed Victoria and Albert Fashion in Detail series, this unique visual resource can be used for practical purposes by designers, students, and other style-o-philes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Exquisite!
Sumptuous full-color, full-page photos of historic clothing details, supplemented by intriguing line drawings of the entire garments and succinct commentary. This book can serve as a source of inspiration for anyone seeking elegance, beauty, vitality, and imagination in design. Interestingly organized into sections such as Necklines; Fastenings; Linings and Pockets, though regardless of the section, it is a feast for the eye. ... Read more