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Prestel
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Botticelli is one of the most admired artists of the Renaissance period and his seductive Venus and graceful Primavera are among the world's most recognisable works of art. This catalogue raisonne of Botticelli's paintings offers more than two hundred full-colour illustrations and meticulous scholarship by the distinguished Renaissance art historian Frank Zollner, described by The Financial Times, when reviewing this book's previous edition, as a fabulous, accessible scholar; his book has luscious reproductions and exquisite detail. Presented in chronological order, the facts of Botticelli's life and career are insightfully discussed against the background of the artistic upheaval that marked the Renaissance period. The artist's reinterpretations of ancient myths as well as his religious paintings are thoughtfully explored in this sumptuously illustrated volume, which will please scholars and delight lovers of fine art books everywhere. |
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Klee and Kandinsky were towering figures of the modernist movement and were close, both as friends and artists. For a time they lived next door to one another and exchanged their artistic ideas on a daily basis. This unique book explores their 30-year relationship, from the time of the Blue Rider group around 1912, through the Bauhaus years in Weimar and Dessau until the late 1930s. With the culture of the Weimar Republic as a backdrop, this book traces the eventful history of an artistic friendship. Kandinsky's idealism is juxtaposed with Klee's irony and we learn that their relationship was characterised in equal measure by friendship and competitiveness, mutual influence and the need to establish distance. The focus is on the artistic dialogue they enacted through their art. They were joined by an aspiration to spiritualise art and explore its intrinsic laws. At the same time, Kandinsky's commitment to abstraction contrasted strongly with Klee's allegiance to natural models. |
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The story of how and why Impressionism came into being is as intriguing as the artworks themselves. While this volume focuses on the movement's development primarily through the works of Claude Monet, it also gathers together some of the most important works by other Impressionist artists of the 1860s and 1870s. Readers will learn how the upheavals in French society — shifts in the relationship between man and nature, between work and leisure, as well as technological progress and increased mobility — all contributed to Impressionism. Equally as fascinating is the evolution of the movement itself: the introduction of plein air painting; the shift from the timeless to the ephemeral; the ascension of colour and light over subject matter. Organised chronologically, the book also demonstrates the ways that Impressionism's development was cyclical and complex, as painters adapted the style for their own use. Thus, works by lesser-known artists such as Frederic Bazille, Armand Guillaumin, or Stanislas Lepine are shown alongside masterpieces by Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet. By focusing on Impressionism's earliest stages, the book offers a thorough and satisfying exploration that paves the way for a deeper understanding of the movement's myriad hybridisations and, eventually, the birth of abstraction. This delightful overview also offers readers a thoughtful context from which to appreciate these most beautiful works of art. Published in association with the Stadel Museum, Frankfurt. |
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A woman ahead of her time, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was an intrepid explorer, naturalist and scholar, as well as a magnificent artist. This lovely, impeccably designed book tells Merian's incredible life story alongside colourful reproductions of her engravings and watercolours of the butterflies she encountered during her lifetime in Germany and the Netherlands and her seminal trip to the Dutch colony of Surinam. The book recounts Merian's monumental expedition, her work as an advocate for the slave laborers of Surinam and her important studies of the anatomy and life cycle of the butterfly. Author Boris Friedewald employs Merian's favourite insect as a metaphor for the artist's own pioneering evolution from budding entomologist to educator, activist and artist. A visual treasure as well as a satisfying read, this exquisite volume is the perfect gift for anyone interested in Merian's amazing life and groundbreaking body of work. |
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Frida Kahlo created a natural paradise in her home at Casa Azul in Mexico City. The plants cultivated there were vital components of some of her most original work and an important part of her fascination with indigenous Mexican history and culture. From early paintings dating from the 1920s to her last known work, Kahlo's use of botanical imagery reflects not only a love of the natural world, but also an evolving iconography. By focusing attention on this aspect of her art and its relationship to her garden sanctuary, the book demonstrates how the natural world provided Kahlo with inspiration. In addition to dazzling full-page reproductions of Kahlo's paintings and works on paper, the book also includes essays presenting Kahlo as an avid collector of artifacts, animals, books and plants. Archival photos trace the evolution of the Casa Azul (the Blue House) over the course of the artist's lifetime. Additionally, it explores Mexican architecture, landscape design and gardens of the early 20th century. Fans of botanical art, garden enthusiasts, and Kahlo's many devotees will find new and exciting images and information in this elegant, unique presentation of one of modern art's most revered figures. Published in association with The New York Botanical Garden. |
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This book will survey the broad range of Cristina Iglesias's work from its beginnings in the mid-1980s until the present. In addition to focusing on sculptures made for museum and gallery contexts, it will reference Iglesias's various and much acclaimed public pieces and the accompanying films series, the Guided Tours. The catalogue, which includes models, drawings and sketchbooks, will trace the evolution and realisation of several ambitious site specific projects. In addition, it will present a comprehensive overview of Iglesias's silk-screen works on both copper and cloth. Examining the substantial contribution that Iglesias has made to sculpture as a contemporary art form, both public and private, the book's five essays focus on a variety of key subjects: Iglesias's way of understanding sculpture as visualized thought; her use of water as a material in sculpture; her references to fine art traditions; dialogues with architecture; and her public commissions. |
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Born in Poland, Rose Mandel emigrated to California in 1942. A love of photography soon brought her into contact with Edward Weston and then with Ansel Adams and Minor White, both of whom had a strong influence on Mandel's work. Including her important sequence The Errand of the Eye, this book presents the sensitivity and clarity of Mandel's vision. Images from natural and man-made environments, eloquent portraits and abstract landscapes convey Mandel's delight in the compositions and patterns that can be found anywhere, whether walking along a city street or a country path. These photographs are the result of a highly refined sense of craftsmanship and a complex understanding of psychology and abstract expressionism that caused Mandel to be described as a painter with a camera. The first monograph on the artist, this volume features an enlightening overview of Mandel's life and work, along with an illustrated chronology and exhibition history. |
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Count Basie, Tchaikovsky, Aretha Franklin, Lou Reed, Diana Ross, John Lennon and the Rolling Stones all had their music promoted by Andy Warhol's record covers. This stunning volume reproduces all of the album covers, front and back, that Warhol designed over four decades. Hundreds of additional contextual illustrations present liner notes and inside covers, related works by Warhol and documentary images that trace the artist's visual sources. Author Paul Marechal explores Warhol's creative process, his relationship with artists and his fascination with all genres of music. The range of music represented through these record covers, from jazz to classical and rock to soul, reveals the breadth of Warhol's musical tastes and his extraordinary ability to combine his artistic vision with that of the musicians. |
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This refreshing work recalls the golden age of graphic design in the 50s and 60s but looks forward to a new generation of designers using hand-made, more organic design techniques to create and inspire their works. The visual poetic mix of illustrations shown a celebration and reinvention of the artisanal methods once used in graphic design. |
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From jewellery designers to scientists, graphic artists to naturalists, the range of people inspired by Ernst Haeckel's illustrations continues to grow. Following up on Prestel's Art Forms in Nature and Art Forms from the Ocean, this new collection features startlingly beautiful images created by Haeckel, who was commissioned to contribute to the report of the HMS Challenger expedition, which circumnavigated the world from 1872-76. The Challenger's achievements were unparalleled, with nearly 5,000 new species discovered and catalogued from the depths of Earth's oceans. Full-page reproductions bring these organisms colourfully to life, drawing readers into a world at once hypnotic and highly ordered. Divided into three sections-Siphonophores, Medusae and Radiolarians-these illustrations display Haeckel's remarkable artistic skill and understanding of the architecture of organic matter. The authors provide a brief history of the Challenger expedition, background on Haeckel's scientific and artistic accomplishments, as well as informative texts on each group of organisms. A guide to the natural world and an inspiration to artists of every stripe, this collection of Haeckel's work is a fitting tribute to a 19th century genius. |
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This groundbreaking examination of the cultural exchange between early 20th century French and German artists illuminates new ways of understanding the development of Expressionism. Although the Expressionist movement is widely considered to have arisen out of a German aesthetic, it was actually as much a result of German artists exposure to artists living and working in France, such as van Gogh, Seurat, Gauguin, Czanne, Matisse, Picasso, and Braque. In fact, in its early days, Expressionism was assigned no specific nationality at all. This fascinating book focuses on the key exhibitions, galleries, and museum directors that helped disseminate styles and techniques of revolutionary French artists throughout Germany. Included here are French masterpieces seen not only by German artists in Paris but also in important galleries, exhibitions, and private collections in Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Weimar, and other cities. More than 100 paintings and works on paper are grouped to encourage an understanding of artistic influence and interchange. The volume also reflects new scholarship on issues of French-German relations and contributes to our understanding of the ways the visual arts are influenced by ideas of national identity and cultural heritage. |
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Throughout history, flowers have been the inspiration for jewellers and the people who wore their creations. Gabrielle Chanel's favourite flower was the camellia and since the 1920s the flower has become incorporated into every aspect of the house's designs. Christian Dior favoured the lily of the valley and made it the centre of his 1954 collection. The rose de noel, which blooms in winter, has become synonymous with van Cleef and Arpel. This gorgeous volume highlights hundreds of examples of the finest floral jewellery ever made. Divided into four seasons — and the flowers that bloom in them — this book explores the history of flowers in the fine jewellery world and features dazzling illustrations, original sketches and gouache paintings showing how these blooms have been translated into pieces that are both priceless and ageless. The jewellery editor of British Vogue, Carol Woolton, offers expert insights into fashion history and trends. She explores the Belle Epoque, styles of the 1940s and the re-interpretations of iconic pieces. From original bejewelled botanical pieces by master jewellers such as Rene Lalique and Peter Carl Faberge, to the splendour of Cartier's orchids and fanciful imaginative flowers by contemporary designers such as Victoire de Castellane. The book also features magical floral pieces by Joel Arthur Rosenthal, acknowledged as the world's greatest jeweller, who has contributed a foreword for the book. These fanciful ornaments will entice collectors and dreamers alike. |
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Russian Modernism is dedicated to the radical modernist movements in Russian and German art during the early years of the 20th century. Their development was parallel and often intertwined. Artists such as Vasily Kandinsky or Alexej von Jawlensky are claimed by the Germans but remain Russian artists for the Russians. The Burluk brothers, who became celebrities of the Russian radical art scene, participated in the first exhibition of the Blauer Reiter. Russian artists travelled to Germany and lived there, while their German counterparts were aware of what was shown in Moscow exhibition halls. The diverse art movement expressionism was formed in Germany at the beginning of the 1910s and was given the name by the critic Herwarth Walden. Members of groups such as Die Brucke and the Blauer Reiter were initially influenced by the French Fauves movement and their Russian contemporaries also tried to find new artistic truth in Paris, la Ville Lumiere. However, both in Germany and Russia the new French influence underwent radical transformation. Beautifully illustrated and designed, this book provides an insight into the work of Russian and German artists in the early years of the 20th century. |
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What better way to learn about art than to create your own masterpiece alongside another, find hidden details that add to an understanding of the artwork, read fascinating stories about how the work came to be created, or take an entertaining quiz that leads to a deeper appreciation of techniques and themes. This beautifully designed activity book introduces children to many of the world's greatest artworks-ranging from African masks and Japanese prints to European paintings and modern art. Hands-on projects are sure to spark children's imaginations while imparting important knowledge that will serve them well as they grow older. The book is perfect for all kinds of drawing and the exquisite reproductions will impress kids of all ages. Whether used at home or in a classroom, this engaging and enriching book will delight children, their parents and teachers with its endless opportunities to create and learn about art. |
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«Now available again in a stunning new format, this generously illustrated book for lovers of photography includes 365 images from the greatest photojournalists of today and yesterday. Founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Magnum Photos is the iconic international photographic cooperative whose members have captured the major historical events of their times, as well as private and intimate moments. A year's worth of these images is offered in this visually stunning book that featuresfull page reproductions organized to reflect what CartierBresson himself declared a «community of thouht, a shared human quality, a curiosity about what is going on in the world, a respect for what is going on and a desire to transcribe it visually.» Nearly 70 photographers are represented with five to six images each, and the current Magnum members have selected the photographs that they consider to best represent their own output. Running more than 700 pages, this book includes images that make history both individual and universal.» |
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Big art for little hands — this new Klimt Colouring Book in Prestel's new Colouring Book range is a beautifully produced scribble book. With plenty of space to colour outside the lines, the book is also designed to give kids an early interest in some of the great masters. Sections of Klimt's masterpieces are there to inspire children's creativity, whatever their age. |
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Big art for little hands, these enchanting activity books allow young artists to explore the world's masterpieces on their own terms and with plenty of space to colour outside the lines. |
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Buildings of every shape and size and from all corners of the world, populate this colourful and beautifully produced book that introduces children to history's most iconic architectural feats and the people behind them. In lively illustrated spreads, young readers will learn how Christopher Wren reconstructed an 11th-century cathedral after London's great fire of 1666 to become the St Paul's Cathedral that we know today and how its dome survived the Blitz. They will find out how Thomas Jefferson, in building his plantation, Monticello, created a new architecture for a new nation. They will be introduced to the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Zaha Hadid and can examine in detail the wonders of the Eiffel Tower, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and Rome's most beautiful theatre. The book proceeds chronologically, accompanied by a timeline to offer helpful historical context. Each architect's entry includes a concise biography, illustrations of major works and lively texts that speak directly to young readers. Additional information about the buildings pictured, suggestions for further reading and online resources will satisfy the most curious of minds. |
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From art school student to designer for Nike, Topshop, and Google, Kate Moross has lived the life that young graphic artists dream of. But it hasn't always been a smooth ride, and in this informative memoir and guide Moross offers true insider's tips on how to make it in a highly competitive field. Written in an approachable, forthright, and refreshingly honest tone, Make Your Own Luck features chapters on how to thrive in art school, developing your own style, how to self-promote, collaboration with other artists, how to deal with copycats, and when to consider working for free. She also touches on the fine points of music packaging and videos, how to find an agent, and looks back on the touchstone moments that helped shape her career. Designed to mimic Moross's signature bold, brightly coloured style, this book is filled with dozens of examples of her work for companies such as Google, Adidas, and Nokia, as well as musicians including Simian Mobile Disco, Jessie Ware, Zomby, and Pictureplane. Irreverent and packed with enormously helpful tips for designers of all stripes, Make Your Own Luck is certain to become an indispensable guide for anyone interested in graphic art as a vocation or hobby. |
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