History of art Books
The University of Chicago Press Modern Art
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments, Sheila Schwartz Introduction, James Meyer 1. Art Conquers All: The Unloved Wife 2. Cézanne’s Barnes Bathers & Co. 3. Thoughts on Monet 4. Matisse: Music 5. Max Ernst: This Is a Test 6. “Jasper Johns”: For the Record 7. Encounters with Rauschenberg 8. Some of Hans Haacke’s Works Considered as Fine Art 9. The Statue in the Taxi: The Ins and Outs of Modern Sculpture 10. Art Minus Criticism Equals Art 11. Exit Clown, Speaking Anything Notes Leo Steinberg: Chronology Leo Steinberg: Publications (1947–2010) Photography Credits Index
£49.40
The University of Chicago Press Woven Histories
Book SynopsisTrade Review"This major looker of an exhibition catalog loosens up the warp and weft of conventional views of modern art—all those tight-knotted hierarchical categories (high versus low, art versus craft) on which our institutions and markets still rest—and demonstrates the universe of formal and conceptual brilliance that has always traveled on a parallel track. The sheer variety of work produced by more than 50 artists chosen by the book’s editor, Lynne Cooke, will knock your socks off. (Just wait till you see what’s happening in the field of basketry alone.) So will the visual imaginations of individual geniuses we already know like Anni Albers, Ruth Asawa, Gego, Lenore Tawney and Sheila Hicks, and the others we’re introduced to here." * New York Times, on "Best Art Books of 2023" *"In centering weaving—thread, fiber, and cloth—Woven Histories differently tracks adaptations from within the frame of its traditions." * Brooklyn Rail *"Placing textiles — and centrally weaving — at the heart of modern abstract art, Cooke selected from the work of around fifty textile artists. She also invited five art critics to respond to the thorny issues raised when weaving and abstract art are linked. Most powerfully, six contemporary fiber artists were asked to draw on their creative perspectives to comment on the works of other fiber artists in the show. . . . Cooke’s majestic compendium of woven artists contains over one hundred finely reproduced illustrations." * Arts Fuse *Table of ContentsForeword Modernist Histories: Braided, Interlaced, and Aligned — Lynne Cooke Plates Artists’ ResponsesLisa Oppenheim Harmony Hammond Jeffrey Gibson Ann Hamilton Ellen Lesperance Ulrike Müller Carole Frances Lung Unavoidable Nature — Darby English Textile Thinking — Briony Fer Not Your Grandmother’s Labor — Bibiana K. Obler Dimensions of Basketry — Elissa Auther Textility and Technology — Michelle Kuo Notes List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Index
£47.50
McGill-Queen's University Press Out of the Studio
Book SynopsisPhotography, one of the most influential inventions of the nineteenth century, has been shaped by Canadian innovators. Among them are two Quebec men who have flown beneath the radar in studies of the history of photography: the Smeaton brothers.Out of the Studio documents the life, oeuvre, and achievement of Charles Smeaton and his younger brother, John. Launched by the opening of their photographic gallery in 1861, they developed a reputation in Quebec for images of contemporaneous people, places, and events taken in challenging outdoor settings. Smeaton pictures of the aftermath of the Great Fire of Quebec in 1866 helped bring an understanding of the disaster to an international audience; images featuring the gold mining industry were displayed at the Exposition universelle in Paris the following year. When Charles travelled to Europe in 1866, he accomplished a feat previously thought impossible, taking the first successful photographs in the Roman catacombs. John movTrade Review“The Smeatons are of great interest because they participated, in specific and local ways, in several of the major technological and cultural debates in which photography was embroiled in its first half-century, including their pioneering work producing subterranean photographs of Roman catacombs with the aid of artificial light. While this innovative practice retains a central position in Out of the Studio, the book gives a much fuller picture of the Smeatons’ activities, enhanced by materials from the family’s archives and the authors’ extensive primary research and insights. There are some truly extraordinary photographs here, most of which will be unknown even to specialist readers. From the gold mines of Chaudière to the Montmorency Falls, we are treated to a remarkable panorama of nineteenth-century Quebec. These images will undoubtedly spur further research by scholars, and pleasurable reflection by more general readers.” Jordan Bear, University of Toronto and author of Disillusioned: Victorian Photography and the Discerning Subject
£37.05
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Cultural Treasures of the World From the Relics
Book SynopsisTake a guided tour through history and discover the most precious, iconic, and celebrated objects ever created.Revered, admired, and protected - every country and culture has certain artefacts that are prized above all others. Cultural Treasures of the World brings together more than 200 of these objects, exploring the fascinating and unique stories behind each of them.From the Bust of Nefertiti to the Benin Bronzes, and the Altamira cave paintings to Van Gogh''s Sunflowers, these artefacts and artworks are revered for their beauty, artistry, or historical significance - and often all three at once. Discover how and why they were created, unravel the hidden meanings and symbolism they contain, and learn about the cultural legacy they have left behind.So what are you waiting for? Dive into this awe-inspiring history of art book to explore: - An immersive visual tour approach, combining stunning photography with accessible text and
£24.00
Penguin Books Ltd Nat Tate
Book SynopsisThe infamous literary hoax that fooled the art worldOn January 8 1960, artist Nat Tate set out to burn his entire life''s work. Four days later he jumped off a Staten Island ferry, killing himself. His body was never found. When William Boyd published his biography of Abstract Expressionist Nat Tate, tributes poured in from a whole host of artists and critics in the New York art world. They toasted the troubled genius in a Manhattan launch party attended by David Bowie and Gore Vidal. But Nat Tate never existed. The book was a hoax. Will Boyd''s biography of a fake artist is a brilliant probe into the politics of authenticity and reputation in the modern art scene. It is a playful and intelligent insight into the fascinating, often cryptic world of modern art.Trade ReviewWilliam Boyd has probably written more classic books than any of his contemporaries * Daily Telegraph *A finely judged performance: a deft and resonant alchemy of fact and fiction, of literary myth and imagination * Guardian on Love Is Blind *One of Britain's most celebrated contemporary novelists * Sunday Times *
£9.49
MIT Press Ltd Visual Culture MIT Press Essential Knowledge
Book SynopsisHow to think about what it means to look and see: a guide for navigating the complexities of visual culture.The visual surrounds us, some of it invited, most of it not. In this visual environment, everything we see—color, the moon, a skyscraper, a stop sign, a political poster, rising sea levels, a photograph of Kim Kardashian West—somehow becomes legible, normalized, accessible. How does this happen? How do we live and move in our visual environments? This volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series offers a guide for navigating the complexities of visual culture, outlining strategies for thinking about what it means to look and see—and what is at stake in doing so.Visual culture has always been inscribed by the dominant and by domination. This book suggests how we might weaponize the visual for positive, unifying change. Drawing on both historical and contemporary examples—from Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party and Beyoncé and
£13.49
Yale University Press Jeff Koons
Book SynopsisA fresh and engaging look at the controversial work of Jeff Koons, with insightful analyses and illustrations of all of his iconic pieces alongside preparatory works and historical photographsTrade Review"Rothkopf’s clear and coolly measured catalogue introduction must be read by any serious critic of Koons, pro or con."—Peter Schjeldahl, New Yorker"A good primer for this controversial artist."—Lucy Davies, The Daily Telegraph
£42.75
Yale University Press The Guggenheim
Book SynopsisThe captivating tale of the plans and personalities behind one of New York City's most radical and recognizable buildingsTrade Review“[Dal Co] sets out again to trace the circumstances that enabled the realization of a building so resistant to the orthodoxy hardening around it. Drawing from correspondence, theoretical discussions, technical analyses, and substantial previous scholarship, he illustrates the charged climate surrounding the genesis of the Guggenheim, condensing decades into a narrative of overlapping events to arrive at new interpretations of Wright’s masterpiece.”—Kelly Chan, Metropolis“Dal Co . . . [makes] a strong case for the Guggenheim as a masterpiece. No architect less visionary than Wright—or less dedicated to his own vision—could have accomplished so much.”— Stanley Abercrombie Interior Design"An absorbing history and technical analysis behind the design of the landmark structure."—Suzanne Stephens, Architectural Record'…copiously illustrated introduction to the most loved and loathed museum building.’ — James Hall, TLS, 17 November 2017 “Delving deep into the epic process of the Guggenheim Museum’s construction, Francesco Dal Co marvelously walks the psychological tightrope between client, architect, the city of New York and all the people—professional and otherwise—who expressed their opinions publicly.”—Frank Gehry“Icon and iconoclast hold equally for subject and author in this compelling account of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum. Juxtaposing a rich trove of archival sources with new trajectories of interpretation, Francesco Dal Co argues convincingly for the building’s “timelessness,” all the while reminding us that Wright’s now beloved building was once at the heart of seminal controversies.”—Barry Bergdoll, Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History, Columbia University“Francesco Dal Co’s rich history of the Guggenheim Museum is a revelation—an elegant and beautifully written book as definitive as Wright’s enigmatic masterpiece.”—Tod Williams, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects“Francesco Dal Co has written the most eloquent and insightful synopsis of New York’s Guggenheim Museum to date.”—Anthony Alofsin, FAIA, author of Wright in New York (forthcoming)"This lucid story shows how Wright sustained his revolutionary concept for the Guggenheim Museum amidst many difficulties, ultimately transforming the modern art museum."—Joseph M. Siry, Wesleyan University
£23.75
Yale University Press Constructing Latin America
Book SynopsisA nuanced look at how the Museum of Modern Art’s carefully curated treatment of Latin American architecture promoted U.S. political, economic, and cultural interestsTrade Review“In this thorough and thoughtful study, Patricio del Real weaves a careful balance between formal elements of architecture, its exhibitions, and its various cultural, social, and political meanings.”—Alejandro Anreus, William Paterson University“This is an impressive book: thoroughly researched, well-conceived and organized. It makes an important contribution to the literature on 20th-century architecture, particularly as it emerged and played out in the Americas.”—Keith Eggener, University of Oregon
£47.50
Yale University Press Hieronymus Bosch
Book SynopsisA new and exciting interpretation of Bosch’s masterpiece, repositioning the triptych as a history of humanity and the natural worldTrade Review“Beautifully illustrated . . . inescapably fascinating.”—Phil Baker, Fortean Times“Carroll offers a lively read, enhanced by her close attention to visual details and the copious number of figures detailing the triptych.”—Penny Jolly, author of Picturing the “Pregnant” Magdalene in Northern Art, 1430–1550: Addressing and Undressing the Sinner-Saint“A welcome intervention into the field of Bosch studies. Carroll proposes a novel and quite convincing rethinking of the artist.”—Elizabeth Honig, University of Maryland, College Park
£23.75
Yale University Press Perceptual Drift
Book SynopsisA powerful reframing of the study of Black art and the historical and contemporary status of Black lives
£33.25
Yale University Press Artists Weve Known
Book SynopsisAn eclectic selection of twentieth-century artwork from the collection of legendary curator and museum director Walter Hopps, some with personal reminiscences by the artists themselves
£31.50
Yale University Press Hanne DarbovenWriting Time
Book SynopsisAn investigation of conceptual artist Hanne Darboven’s artistic practice and her highly personal mark-making as a form of marking time on paper
£23.75
Yale University Press Seeing and Not Believing The Photography of
Book SynopsisAn introduction to the postmodern photographs of Allan Chasanoff, whose work interrogates and subverts the notion of photography as a truthful record of the real
£28.50
Yale University Press Humane Ecology
Book SynopsisA presentation of eight contemporary artists whose work considers environmental questions in terms of their social and political implications
£19.00
Yale University Press Frida Kahlos Month in Paris A Friendship with
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£23.75
Hachette Books Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born
Book SynopsisOver the course of its seven-year run, Buffy the Vampire Slayer cultivated a loyal fandom and featured a strong, complex female lead, at a time when such a character was a rarity. Evan Ross Katz explores the show''s cultural relevance through a book that is part oral history, part celebration, and part memoir of a personal fandom that has universal resonance still, decades later.Katz-with the help of the show''s cast, creators, and crew-reveals that although Buffy contributed to important conversations about gender, sexuality, and feminism, it was not free of internal strife, controversy, and shortcomings. Men-both on screen and off-would taint the show''s reputation as a feminist masterpiece, and changing networks, amongst other factors, would drastically alter the show''s tone.Katz addresses these issues and more, including interviews with stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, Seth Green, Marc Blucas, Nicholas Brendon, Danny Strong, Tom Lenk, Bianca Lawson, Julie Benz, Clare Kramer, K. Todd Freeman, Sharon Ferguson; and writers Douglas Petrie, Jane Espenson, and Drew Z. Greenberg; as well as conversations with Buffy fanatics and friends of the cast including Stacey Abrams, Cynthia Erivo, Lee Pace, Claire Saffitz, Tavi Gevinson, and Selma Blair.Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born engages with the very notion of fandom, and the ways a show like Buffy can influence not only how we see the world but how we exist within it.
£15.29
Thames & Hudson Ltd Natural Light
Book SynopsisA brand-new perspective on early modern art and its relationship with nature as reflected in this moving account of overlooked artistic genius Adam Elsheimer, by an outstanding writer and critic. Seventeenth-century Europe swirled with conjectures and debates over what was real and what constituted 'nature', currents that would soon gather force to form modern science. Natural Light deliberates on the eraâs uncertainties, as distilled in the work of painter Adam Elsheimer â a short-lived, tragic German artist who has always been something of a cult secret. Elsheimerâs diminutive, intense and mysterious narrative compositions related figures to landscape in new ways, projecting unfamiliar visions of space at a time when Caravaggio was polarizing audiences with his radical altarpieces and circles of ânatural philosophersâ â early modern scientists â were starting to turn to the new âworld systemâ of Galileo. Julian Bell transports us to the spirited Rome of the 1600s, where ElsheTrade Review'Beautiful. . . . The gentle play with the size of pictures, when so much in Elsheimer depends on size, is especially touching. The book speaks eloquently to Elsheimer’s new pictorial world' - TJ Clark'Julian Bell writes on painting as a painter himself, whose intense feel for light mirrors that of Adam Elsheimer, a German painter drawn to Italy in the age of Caravaggio and Galileo. Bell turns over Elsheimer’s little paintings like objects in amber to reveal their secrets, gently mapping intricate yet ultimately world-spanning webs of artistic allusion and scientific insight. A wunderkammer' - Jonathan Jones'Marvellous, engrossing and illuminating … Natural Light is as light and natural as its subject warrants, a ‘mysterious journey’ on which we will encounter wondrous sights and uncover troves of treasure. It’s even funny in places' - Observer'This is a book as rich in ideas as Elsheimer’s art. Rubens, in a eulogy to his friend, felt Elsheimer’s death to be a loss at which ‘our whole profession should clothe itself in mourning’, and this impressively scholarly and sympathetically intuitive book shows that he was not exaggerating. Bell has brought him back into the light' - Literary Review'Engrossing... Elsheimer's works, little only in size, unlocked new possibilities for art at a time when contemporary astronomy unlocked the heavens... Mr. Bell’s incandescent prose offers a perfect verbal analogue for Elsheimer’s hushed intensity; it has a tactile, prehensile quality, as if the words had formed themselves in the writer’s mind and then taken on a life of their own before he found the time to stick them in a sentence' - The Wall Street Journal'Bell explores the rich and significant detail, particularly botanical and astronomical, with Elsheimer’s pictures, in spite of their size, and takes us down the paths of his relationships to the art and science of his time' - RA Magazine'This study does discerning justice to [Adam Elsheimer's] achievement. Bell’s focus is not just on Elsheimer’s registering of natural details, as the title suggests, but also on his evocation of the supernatural - never richer than in his final masterpiece, "The Flight Into Egypt", with its miraculous interfusing of homeliness and immensity' - The New Yorker'Art historian Bell has produced a fascinating, meticulous book about a painter of whom a contemporary once said “grasped Nature’s spirit and essence”' - The Oldie
£21.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd A Look at My Life
Book Synopsis'A thrilling insight into one of the 20th century's great artists. Agar's exuberant and colourful life and work come alive in this book' Katy Hessel 'A vivid panorama of an adventurous and stimulating age' Financial Times Whether dancing on the rooftops in Paris, sharing ideas with Pablo Picasso, or gathering starfish on the beaches of Cornwall, Eileen Agar (18991991) transformed the everyday into the extraordinary. Her legacy as a pioneering figure in the Surrealist movement is firmly established, and her work continues to captivate audiences with its otherworldly beauty and imaginative power. Agar's life was no less extraordinary than her art. Here, she traces her life from her birth in Argentina to the late 1980s. She gives an intimate account of very different worlds: grand house parties in Buenos Aires and Belgravia as a young girl give way to la vie bohème in London and Paris, and a peripatetic existence with her lifelong partner, Hungarian writer Joseph Bard. She enjoyed e
£28.00
Thames and Hudson Ltd Art of the Nordic Nations
Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated reference on the art of the five Nordic nations, covering a wide range of mediums, movements and styles. Modern art from the Nordic countries Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland tends to be represented by a few famous artists, and an aesthetic known for combining originality and continuity of tradition. Nevertheless, the region is far from homogeneous. Each country has its own artistic language, culture and history, sometimes co-existing with its neighbours in harmony, sometimes engaging them in hard-fought conflict. This extensively illustrated survey offers a new history of Nordic art, from the emergence of Impressionism in the 1870s, through the avant-garde experiments of the early decades of the 20th century and onward to the Second World War and beyond. A broad range of artists are featured, some familiar and others less renowned: Anders Zorn and Hilma af Klimt, Vilhelm Hammershøi and Franciska Clausen, Edvard Munch and Harriet Backer, Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Fanny Churberg, Finnur Jónsson and Öyvind Fahlström. Each artist's work is vividly placed in the context of their homeland as well as the international art movements of the time. The significant role of women artists is also showcased, chronicling their artistic legacy as well as their broader social contributions. The result is a comprehensive account of modern Nordic art in one impressive volume that is sure to become a definitive account.
£38.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd The First Artists In Search of the Worlds Oldest
Book SynopsisTwo of the greatest living authorities on Ice Age art take the reader on a journey across the globe and hundreds of thousands of years into the past to discover the deepest origins of art.Trade Review'A brilliantly researched, global survey of the very first stirrings of human art, which shows us, with admirable objectivity, that there is a deep-seated urge in all human beings to go beyond mere survival and impose visually creative patterns on our world, making us the first truly artistic animal' - Desmond MorrisTable of ContentsIntroduction: What is Art? • 1. Early Attempts to Tackle the Problem: Theories, Chimps and Children • 2. Finding art in Nature: the first stirrings of an aesthetic sense • 3. Can we see art in the first tools? • 4. All work and no play? Looking at marks on bones and stones • 5. Figuring it out – the first carvings • 6. Jingles and bangles: seeking the origins of music and decorated bodies • 7. First art in the landscape • 8. The writing’s on the wall • 9. The appearance of rock art around the world • Conclusion
£16.96
Thames & Hudson Ltd Scottish Art New Edition 1 World of Art
Book SynopsisThe most thorough and accessible short introduction to Scottish art available.Trade Review'An affordable first cut into Scotland’s rich and varied art history … cannot be beaten for its authority, its contextual reach, and its elegantly thought-through juxtapositions' - Art NorthTable of ContentsPreface • 1. Prehistory and Early History • 2. The Development of Christian Art • 3. Loss and Reconstruction • 4. Classicism and Celticism • 5. Art and Philosophy • 6. Nineteenth-Century Narratives • 7. Modernity and Revivals • 8. Twentieth-Century Pluralism • 9. Deconstructing Stereotypes and Reappropriating Symbols
£13.49
Thames & Hudson Ltd Black Art
Book SynopsisA groundbreaking book that explores the visual representations of black culture across the globe throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-firstTrade Review'With this new edition, the formidable Powell has achieved something that seemed impossible: making this landmark book more indispensable than ever' - Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City'Powell's writing provides that rare combination of being comprehensive and contemporary, expressed with such clarity … Black Art’s relevance is undiminished' - Zoé Whitley, Director, Chisenhale Gallery'Excellent artists’ profiles, lots of reproductions, and illuminating and original discussions of the social and cultural contexts and implications' - Booklist'Significantly advances the discourse on black art and culture' - International Review of African American ArtTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Dark Centre 1. Art, Culture and “the Souls of Black Folk” 2. Enter and Exit the “New Negro” 3. The Cult of the People 4. Pride, Assimilation, and Dreams 5. “Black is a Colour” 6. Culture as Currency 7. Through a Glass, Diasporally 8. Fin-de-Siècle Blues 9. The Price of Blackness Bibliographical Notes Select Bibliography and Sources List of Illustrations 00 Index
£15.29
Thames and Hudson Ltd New Deal Art
Book SynopsisJohn P. Murphy is the Philip and Lynn Straus Curator of Prints and Drawings at The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College. He received his PhD in Art History from Northwestern University, where he co-curated the exhibition The Left Front: Radical Art in the 'Red Decade', 1929-1940 at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum. At the Art Institute of Chicago, Murphy curated Flesh: Ivan Albright (2018); the accompanying digital catalogue received an Award of Excellence from the Association of Art Museum Curators. He is also a leading scholar on African American artist Charles White.
£16.99
Thames & Hudson Ltd Vincents Gardens Paintings and Drawings by Van
Book SynopsisPresents Van Goghs lifelong love affair with the garden. This title illustrates a range of works, from iconic oils such as Irises to exquisite etchings and intimate sketches.Trade Review'Constant, though, is the thrilling intensity of Van Gogh’s engagement with the gardens, backyards, parks and allotments he encountered … teases out all the creative and psychological implications' - The Scotsman'A fresh perspective on Van Gogh’s artistic evolution towards his vibrant and vividly coloured style' - Metro'The perfect gift for Van Gogh fans and garden lovers alike' - Daily ExpressTable of ContentsIntroduction: Life happens above all in the garden • 1 Vincent’s Love of Gardens • 2 Vincent’s Dutch Gardens, 1881–85 • 3 Vincent’s Parisian Gardens, 1886–88 • 4 Vincent’s Provençal Gardens, 1888–90 • 5 Vincent’s Gardens in Auvers, 1890 • Bibliography • List of quotations • List of illustrations
£13.49
Thames & Hudson Ltd Contemporary Chinese Art A History
Book SynopsisThe first and only comprehensive survey of contemporary Chinese art, one of the most vital and expanding sectors of the global art world today.Trade Review'A stunning publication that could well become a classic' - Burlington MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction • Part 1 1970s–1980s: 1. Beyond the Revolution; 2. 85 Art New Wave; 3. Rebirth of the Artist • Part 2 1990s: 4. A Contemporary Turn; 5. An Age of Experimentation: Return of the Real; 6. An Age of Experimentation: Redefining Chinese Art • Part 3 1990s–2000s: 7. Contemporary Chinese Art Beyond China; 8. Conversation With Tradition; 9. After Normalization • Conclusion
£48.00
Thames & Hudson Ltd Modern Art in Detail
Book SynopsisCasts new light on 75 masterpieces of modern art, revealing details that even those familiar with the works may previously have missed.Trade Review'A handsome and useful guide to how great paintings work their magic upon us' - Independent'This inspiring book takes you where so many other art books fear to tread: up close … The results are revelatory' - Artists & Illustrators'Written entertainingly and with clarity … Read this and you really will start to appreciate the mastery of the art of our recent times' - The ArtistTable of ContentsIntroduction • 75 artworks
£21.21
Thames & Hudson Ltd Leonardo Popups
Book SynopsisA one-of-a-kind book of pop-ups based on the works of Leonardo da Vinci.Table of Contents1. Self portrait 2. Annunciation 3. Ornithopter 4. Virgin & Child 5. Architecture – an overview of his drawings and designs 6. Vitruvian Man
£21.21
Thames & Hudson Ltd Hockneys Portraits and People
Book SynopsisExplores different formal ways of representing the passage of time and at the same time the unavoidable but marvellous stillness of portraits.Trade Review'An utterly compelling rogues’ gallery of the famous, the infamous and the anonymous' - The Spectator'Attractive and entertaining ... Hockney’s gifts (close observation and an elegantly expressive line) have always been evident in his portraits' - Sunday Times'An elegant framework for an account of a life which is also a study and a celebration of that life’s work … virtually every page turned is another encounter with Hockney’s distinctively expressive sense of line and colour' - Times Literary Supplement'A Thames & Hudson treat' - Vogue
£21.25
Thames & Hudson Ltd Contemporary Painting 1 World of Art
Book SynopsisAn international survey exploring the many ways in which painting is re-approached, re-imagined and challenged by todayâs artists.Trade Review'Hudson’s overview brings together more than 250 artists from Cecily Brown to Njideka Akunyili Crosby and Kara Walker, examining and unpicking queer narratives, race, activism and climate issues' - The Art NewspaperTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Appropriation • 2. Attitude • 3. Production and Distribution • 4. The Body • 5. Beyond Painting • 6. About Painting • 7. Living Painting • Further Reading
£15.29
Thames & Hudson Ltd Whos Afraid of Contemporary Art
Book SynopsisWhat is contemporary art? What makes it contemporary? Who is it for? And why is it so expensive?Who?s Afraid of Contemporary ArtWho?s Afraid of Contemporary Art
£9.45
Thames & Hudson Ltd The History of African Art
Book SynopsisA concise, accessible and up-to-date overview of the arts of Africa from prehistoric times to the present day. This indispensable introductory guide explores the art of the African continent from its early origins over 150,000 years ago to the contemporary, set in the context of post-colonial debates, the restitution of cultural objects and artefacts, and the challenges of the present. This enormous and complex field of study, once under-appreciated by the Western art world, is now of global importance and an essential subject of education in art history. For ease of reference and analysis, this indispensable guide is structured chronologically into manageable and meaningful chapters covering ancient art, the Middle Ages, travel and trade, encounters with Europe in the age of exploration, the colonial era, the rebuilding of the continent in recent times, and contemporary art. It addresses core, continent-wide themes in African visual and cultural expression, from the life-cycleTrade Review'Highly engaging, entertaining, and delightfully instructive … a must read for any of us seeking to explore the unique ways of seeing emerging from the continent to which each of us can trace our ancestry' - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'A visually stunning and long-overdue global historical treatment of African art from the entire continent. Its carefully curated images and daring insights take us into comparative realms that encourage greater familiarity with the many themes and changing character of African artistic expression over time. Brava!' - Dr. Candice Goucher, Professor Emerita of History, Washington State University'Suzanne Preston Blier highlights the extraordinary richness of Africa’s visual culture … I applaud the extraordinary artists and creativity featured here' - King Aderemi Adedapo (Yoruba, Nigeria); Convener General, Council of Traditional African Leaders'Blier’s breadth and depth of knowledge affords a timely introduction … at its heart are highpoints of the dazzling artistry that reflect unparalleled cultural dynamism that has flourished across the continent' - Alisa LaGamma, Pulitzer curator for Arts of Africa and Curator in Charge of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
£11.69
Thames and Hudson Ltd Expressionism
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£17.09
Thames & Hudson Ltd The Real and the Romantic English Art Between Two
Book SynopsisThe Times and Sunday Times Art Book of the Year 'Superb ... Spalding is a lucid and revealing guide who wears her scholarship lightly' Sunday Times 'Spalding's prose is as clear as a Ravilious greenhouse, her thoughts as orderly as a Ben Nicholson white relief' The Times A fresh look at a period of English art that has surged in interest and popularity in recent years, authored by one of Britain's leading art historians and critics. The 21st century has seen a surge of interest in English art of the interwar years. Women artists, such as Winifred Knights, Frances Hodgkins and Evelyn Dunbar, have come to the fore, while familiar names Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious and Stanley Spencer have reached new audiences. High-profile exhibitions have attracted recordbreaking visitor numbers and challenged received opinion. In The Real and the Romantic, Frances Spalding, one of Britain's leading art historians and critics, takes a fresh and timely look at this rich period in English art. Trade Review'Superb …. Spalding also uses her persuasive narrative to highlight the role of women artists in the period. As the biographer of a cluster of Bloomsbury figures, she unsurprisingly gives Dora Carrington and Vanessa Bell full measure, but also lesser-known figures such as the single-minded New Zealander Frances Hodgkins, Evelyn Dunbar and Winifred Knights' - Michael Prodger, Sunday Times'Spalding’s prose is as clear as a Ravilious greenhouse, her thoughts as orderly as a Ben Nicholson white relief. No art-world waffle whatsoever. Hurrah. This book deserves to go into many editions' - Laura Freeman, Best Art Books of the Year, The Times'[Spalding] unravels the complexities of English art between the wars with clarity and confidence, moving back and forth in time, and between artists, writers, critics, curators and collectors … Throughout, she illuminates what she neatly describes as “the recurrent tension in this period between a precarious stasis on the one hand and, on the other, a yearning for rapid change” … The period between the wars was a varied and important stage in the development of British art. Spalding shows us how and why' - Literary Review'Frances Spalding's beautifully illustrated history reveals the hidden undercurrents that electrified the work of 1920s and 1930s artists … The author combines the august and measured commentary of the distinguished art historian with a gumshoe’s curiosity … This is a weighty and beautifully illustrated addition to the scholarship of its period' - Stephen Smith, Financial Times'The writing is thorough and the arguments convincing, with plenty of examples, analyses and histories. The book is also generously illustrated, and Thames & Hudson again pull off their trick of getting good colour reproduction on book paper' - Artbookreview'Enjoyable ... There's much to be learnt from Spalding's engaging study of a complex period' - Andrew Lambirth, The Spectator'The author has compressed a deluge of material into 384 critically lucid and crucially well illustrated pages. She is expert in discerning trends and connections between hundreds of human strands … all this perceptive linkage seems only to emphasise the fundamental individuality of some of the most interesting English artists between the wars' - Country Life'A great page-turner, then, but also a fine reference book, which will, undoubtedly, be frequently pulled off the shelf for information and inspiration about that variegated array of artists – real and romantic – whose imagination lit up what is nowadays routinely considered to be the richest period in British art history' - British Art Fair News'Veteran biographer Frances Spalding, known for her insightful books on the early British Modernists Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry, turns her penetrating gaze on the interwar years' - Christie’s'Delectable ... the joy and intense interest of this book will come courtesy of the attention given by its scholarly but always readable author to less well-known names' - Rachel Cooke, Guardian'Paul Nash, Gwen John, Henry Moore, Eric Ravilious, Ben Nicholson and Stanley Spencer all feature in this fresh and enlightening new look at English art between 1918 and 1939, which travels from modernism to English pastoral and embraces a host of lesser male and female figures in its broad and highly assured sweep' - Sunday Times'This amply illustrated volume is a gripping read whether for new collectors looking for tips, art lover or expert' - Rachel Billington, The Tablet'Figures such as Ravilious, Knights, Dunbar, Nash and Spencer re-interpreted Britain and its landscape for a new world, and this thoughtful and generously illustrated book charts their progress as well as the environment and society they sought to represent' - The Artist'Spalding brings new insights to familiar names … a layering and interweaving of ideas bring increasing depth and nuance to our understanding … alongside the revision and expansion of art historical narratives of the period, precisely what you expect from a writer of Spalding’s calibre, come nuggets of fascinating detail' - Studio International'A revealing survey of how British artists reacted to the shock of the First World War … Frances Spalding meticulously and stylishly uncovers a range of vibrant [artistic] responses, from the modern pastorals of Eric Ravilious to Henry Moore’s radical experiments' - New Statesman'A clear, compelling read that wears its scholarship with an attractive lightness and, within its genre, could be fairly called a page-turner ... a landmark book. A good read. And a must-read if your summer plans include a visit to Tate Britain or some other gallery that takes the work of English painters seriously' - Camden New Journal'Engaging and illuminating … a perfect aid to those interested in the influences, painting methods and lives of well-known artists, but also anyone who wishes to discover less famous artists working in a variety of styles' - The Critic'Frances Spalding describes, with the maximum of insight and minimum of fuss, the myriad ways English painters and sculptors responded to the challenge of making art in the aftermath of the First World War. She employs both major and minor names – from Paul Nash to Winifred Knights – to reveal the interwar years as a time of unexpected invention and stylistic fecundity' - New Statesman, Books of the YearTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Pitiless Realism 2. Resistance and Innovation 3. On the Move 4. Landscape and Places of the Mind 5. Beginning Again 6. What ho, Giotto 7. Expanding the Western European Tradition 8. Make It Real 9. Revivalism 10. Modern Art in a Philistine World 11. The Austere, the Violent or the Strange 12. The Spanish Civil War and Mondrian in London
£28.00
Thames & Hudson Ltd Postmodern Design Complete
Book SynopsisA comprehensive and authoritative publication on one of the most popular periods of international design and decorative arts.Trade Review'The most comprehensive of any book on the subject' - Irish TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Masters of Postmodernism • 2. Forms of Postmodernism • 3. Living with Postmodernism • 4. Postmodernism Continues
£52.00
Thames & Hudson Ltd Magnum China
Book SynopsisA panoramic document of China by Magnum's legendary photographers, spanning the pre-revolutionary years to the country's rise as a global superpower.Trade Review'Timelines, foldout maps, lists of Magnum photographers’ migratory routes and essays by Sinologist Jonathan Fenby give this already large and beautifully produced book added authority' - The World of Interiors'Salutes Magnum’s photojournalistic achievement, as well as providing a valuable record of the country’s endlessly fascinating, often heartbreaking, 20th-century story' - Wallpaper'Magnum's photos provide a panoramic portrait of China and its people through the changes and upheavals in its recent history' - BBC in Pictures'Impressive ... an important book for anyone interested in China and its place in the world, told by historians, social commentators and artists' - Black & White Photography Magazine'Impressive … A visually powerful cultural and political history' - The Lady'Reveals not just how much China, but also Magnum Photos, and photography in general, have changed … as Zheng Ziyu remarks in the introduction "creating new ways of seeing"' - RPS JournalTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. A Time of War • 2. The Mao Zedong Years • 3. The Deng Xiaoping Years • 4. The Era of a Global Superpower
£38.40
University of California Press Modern Sculpture
Book SynopsisThis tapestry of primary sources is an essential primer on sculpture and its makers. Modern Sculpture presents a selection of manifestos, documents, statements, articles, and interviews from more than ninety sculptors, including a diverse selection of contemporary sculptors. With this book, editor Douglas Dreishpoon defers to artists, whose varied points of view illuminate sculpture's transformationfrom object to action, concept to phenomenonover the course of more than a century. Chapters arranged in chronological sequences highlight dominant stylistic, philosophical, and thematic threads uniting kindred groups. The result is an artist-centric history of sculpture as a medium of consequence and character.
£27.00
Faber & Faber Roxy Music 19531972 The Band That Invented an Era
Book SynopsisWritten with the assistance, for the first time, of all of those involved, including Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, Andy Mackay and Phil Manzanera; the fashion designer Antony Price, the founding guru of pop art, and Bryan Ferry''s tutor, Richard Hamilton, and many more, Roxy is also the account of how pop art, the avant garde underground of the 1960s, and the heady slipstream of London in the sixties was transformed into the fashion cults of revivalism, nostalgia and pop futurism in the early 1970s.
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Face of Britain
Book SynopsisSimon Schama brings Britain to life through its portraits, as seen in the five-part BBC series The Face of Britain and the major National Portrait Gallery exhibitionChurchill and his painter locked in a struggle of stares and glares; Gainsborough watching his daughters run after a butterfly; a black Othello in the nineteenth century; the poet-artist Rossetti trying to capture on canvas what he couldn''t possess in life; a surgeon-artist making studies of wounded faces brought in from the Battle of the Somme; a naked John Lennon five hours before his death.In the age of the hasty glance and the selfie, Simon Schama has written a tour de force about the long exchange of looks from which British portraits have been made over the centuries: images of the modest and the mighty; of friends and lovers; heroes and working people. Each of them - the image-maker, the subject, and the rest of us who get to look at them - are brought unforgettably to life. TogetherTrade ReviewSchama's greatest gift is a sure eye for an extraordinary story...This isn't what you get from conventional historians or conventional art writers, more's the pity...Schama has written books which will still be bought and talked about a century from now and he hasn't lost an ounce of zest or intelligence. Damn him... -- Andrew Marr * Prospect *He knows the history, the biography, and the art history...he made me look and learn. He is a great storyteller and we learn something new on every page. -- A S Byatt * New Statesman *All of these lives rendered with an acuity of detail that could rival the best of portraitists ... describing Lawrence's portrait of Wilberforce, Schama calls the painting a work of "transforming empathy". That phrase could be true of his storytelling throughout this book. -- Ekow Eshun * The Independent *Simon Schama's richly illustrated history of Britain in portraits is a work of dazzling panache ... a book to devour. -- John Carey * Sunday Times *He has animated our portraits superlatively. One of our most in-demand public intellectuals has deftly ventriloquised his talking heads. -- Stephen Smith * Evening Standard *Wonderfully compelling ... what this book, full of unhackneyed paintings and unfamiliar stories, shows is that when Schama is at his best he can see straight through people. -- Michael Prodger * The Times *Rich in its variety of subjects ... poignantly memorable -- Martin Gayford * Telegraph *Some of the best writing on British portraiture I have read. -- Bendor Grosvenor * Financial Times *He is both an inspired communicator of detail and context, an excitable and exciting critic and a sleeve-tugging gossip. The idea of portraiture is a perfect vehicle for his detailed imagination...the subjects of the portraits become uncannily alive. -- Tim Adams * The Observer *Viewers of his TV shows know what a passionate presenter of his subject - art history - Simon Schama is. He button-holes your eye on his inward voyage of imagination. He does it as compulsively on the page as on screen ... I welcome back in this book history as people - people whose characters can be read in their fascinating faces. -- Peter Lewis * Daily Mail *Inspiring ... Schama tells it with panache, weaving facts and anecdotes into a vivid history. * Observer on 'The Story of the Jews' *Schama has a masterly ability to conjure up character and vivify conflict * Financial Times on 'A History of Britain' *With Schama you look at a picture and see it as you hadn't before * Telegraph on 'Rembrandt's Eyes' *Splendid, spirited, immensely enjoyable and wide-ranging * Financial Times on 'The Story of the Jews' *Shows Schama at his best . . . as full of memorable incident as a Bellow novel and wittier than a Woody Allen movie * The Times on 'The Story of the Jews' *Schama writes with grace and wit, and his enthusiasms are contagious * Anita Brookner on 'The Embarrassment of Riches' *Dazzling, beyond praise * Sunday Times on 'Citizens' *Splendid... seething with ideas. Schama brings great intimacy and authority to proceedings * New York Times Book Review *
£15.29
Princeton University Press Coomaraswamy
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£22.50
British Museum Press Michelangelo the last decades
Book SynopsisTracing the final 30 years of Michelangelo's career, this book examines how the great master used art and faith to explore the common human experience of ageing in a rapidly changing world. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated catalogue demonstrates the creativity of Michelangelo's late years in a way that is both accessible and scholarly.' Jill Burke, author of How to be a Renaissance Woman and The Italian Renaissance Nude Michelangelo Buonarroti (14751564) was one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. He was not the isolated, tortured genius of artistic myth, but a man who maintained a close circle of friends and associates into old age. He developed collaborative working relationships with younger artists, thereby maintaining his fame and reputation even as he aged, relinquishing the hardest physical work to others. His late drawings offer a powerful insight into his psychology, reflecting his Catholic faith, his commanding intellectual engagement and his hope for eternal life. Michelangelo reimagined the iconography of religious art to create hugely influential compositions of key moments in Christian faith, such as the Crucifixion, the Last Judgment and the Pietà (or Lamentation). He was involved in designing several significant sites in Rome at this time including his key architectural project, the immense challenge of rebuilding St Peter's, at the very heart of Christianity. His role as an architect is explored through beautiful drawings, highlighting his range as a designer. Alongside his major commissions he created deeply personal drawings revisiting earlier compositions to explore intensely moving Crucifixions that served as spiritual meditations on Christ's death and offered the hope of salvation for an elderly man facing the end of his own long life. Built on the British Museum's extraordinary collection of drawings, this book explores Michelangelo's relationships and late creativity to go beyond the towering Renaissance master known today.
£28.00
Duckworth Books Effie
Book SynopsisA compelling portrait of the extraordinary woman behind some of the greatest paintings of the Victorian eraTrade Review'Effie Gray's story is extraordinary and Cooper feasts upon it with appetite... I cannot recommend Fagence Cooper's biography of Effie Gray more highly to anyone with a heart, a liking for a good read and an interest in things Victorian' Henrietta Garnett, Literary Review'This is an exceptional book about an exceptional trio and the exceptional families that formed them' The Scotsman'A joy to read - a wonderful, rich book' Emma Thompson'At last Effie Millais has been given her voice and it is marvelous one. Effie emerges as a courageous, intelligent, resourceful, woman who refused to go quietly. In unsettling Victorian society, she left the door ajar for generations of women. Suzanne Fagence Cooper elegantly brings to life the glittering world of Victorian art and the socially complicated one of a woman who wed the two cultural giants of the age and not only survived, but thrived! Effie's story is a haunting one. I couldn't put it down' Linda Lear, author of Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature
£10.44
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Michelangelo
Book Synopsis* This major new biography recounts the extraordinary life of one of the most creative figures in Western culture. * Antonio Forcellino is one of the world s leading authorities on Michelangelo and an expert art historian and restorer.Trade Review"Michelangelo lived in interesting times (French invasions; the Reformation) and Forcellino displays an excellent grasp of the political and religious turmoil of the period and, as an art historian-restorer, is as eloquent talking about techniques as he is about composition and iconography." The Observer "What sets this biography apart is that its author is not merely a historian but an art restorer as well, giving him deep insight into materials and techniques that were such a major part of Michelangelo's life. The author is appealingly novelistic in his portrayal of the artist's quotidian life, lending a three dimensionality to what could otherwise be a dry recital of dates and artworks." History Wire "A breath-taking and even thrilling story offering much that is brand new in an obviously crowded field ... these hands-on descriptions of the colors of the paint, the surfaces, the details of sculpture help us to see Michelangelo in a new and more informed manner." California Literary Review "Authoritative on the life of Michelangelo." Irish Examiner "In this brilliant new biography by art historian and restorer Antonio Forcellino the facts are disentagled from the myths." Yorkshire Evening Post "[Forcellino] succeeds in revealing why Michelangelo still stands head-and-shoulders above his peers (and certainly his twenty-first century successors)." Diplomat "Antonio Forcellino has written Michelangelo's biography as a fascinating novel, but at the same time, it is carefully and well documented by original source material. A thoroughly enjoyable and recommendable read." European Reveiw of History "Combining a biographer's insight with a conservator's knowledge of materials and techniques, Antonio Forcellino has written an engaging study of the world's most famous sculptor, painter, and architect." William Wallace, Washington University "Written as fluently as a novel, Forcellino's gripping narrative combines new research on Michelangelo's life and vivid quotations from his letters with a sharp sense of the artistic challenges to which he responded and a restorer's close attention to technical detail." Peter Burke, University of Cambridge "From the very first pages, this fascinating biography draws us into the heart of the life of the greatest artist of post-Antiquity, a life of privilege which nevertheless had its share of burden and tragedy. As an art historian, Antonio Forcellino is endowed with a fresher, sharper, more professional and livelier outlook than most learned scholars. From his personal experience, he knows the work on the scaffolding, regardless of the height or season, as well as the techniques of the scalpel and the fresco, the study of the human body and the endless negotiations with clients of differing temperaments and moods. At the same time, his fluent and lively account ably evokes Michelangelo's political, economic and personal background, whilst penetrating the secrets of Michelangelo's religiousness: this - occasionally desperate - dialogue with the contradictory thought of contemporary theology and this passionate search for a direct relationship with God which are indispensable keys to the understanding of his works." Christoph Luitpold Frommel, University of Rome "Based on sources of the highest quality, this portrait of a man obsessed with art, at once savage and yet fragile, does away with the cobwebs that have gathered over time. Forcellino - who restored Michelangelo's Moses - knows every inch of the marble with which the artist battled." Corriere della Sera "With striking literary talent, Antonio Forcellino - one of the greatest art historians and restorers in Europe - brings the man and his times to life." La Gazetta del MezzogiornoTable of ContentsList of Figures Introduction Chapter One – Childhood Chapter Two – The Youthful Genius Chapter Three – At the Court of Julius II Chapter Four – Back and forth between Rome and Florence Chapter Five – At the call of the Medicis Chapter Six – Michelangelo’s glasses Chapter Seven – The Pauline Chapel Chapter Eight – No more illusions Notes Index
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Boggarts Trolls and Tylwyth Teg
Book SynopsisFolk stories from different cultures about the Little People that inhabit hidden lands
£13.49
The History Press Ltd King and Collector
Book SynopsisA sumptuous guide to the art of Henry VIII – and what his collection of paintings and artworks reveal about the man and his reignTrade ReviewThe era of Henry VIII was a time of cultural ferment, and King and Collector captures the vivacity and boldness of those years in a fashion that is succinct, well-judged and clear, illuminating the visual culture and placing it in a nuanced context. If you are visiting Tudor England, this book will be a sure guide to what to look at and how to look at it -- Hilary MantelI was gripped from the first paragraph. This is a lively, fascinating and, above all, sound account of Henry VIII as sitter and patron. His turbulent reign is mirrored in art and it is brought to life for a broad audience in this wonderful, beautifully crafted book. Packed with absorbing detail and brilliant insights, this is a must for anyone with an interest in the Tudor period -- Alison WeirExquisite ... Paints a vivid picture of the splendour of Henry VIII’s court and the art treasures within it, and in so doing brings the king himself dazzlingly to life. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, it casts fresh light upon the most famous monarch in British history -- Tracy BormanThis is a book about Tudor art, but also the stories within and around each artwork ... In their account, the authors have succeeded where many others have failed. Art has not been reduced to mere illustration; it becomes an immersive gateway into an exploration of Tudor culture, political symbolism and spirituality. We also have a well-matched account of Henry himself – the nature of his kingship, his ambitions, achievements, failures, frustrations and insecurities – and we follow his path from ebullient masquer and triumphant jouster to the crippled, irascible tyrant ... Through the text and the artworks, we can glimpse a lost world of bejewelled courtiers and palaces drenched in the colour and symbolism of 16th-century art and craftsmanship, as well as understand what it meant to Henry VIII and the Tudor art of kingship -- Brett Dolman, Curator (Collections), Historic Royal PalacesLearning about the arts should always be an enriching and satisfying experience. Crucial to that experience are inspiring narrators who can breathe life into the stories of the past that are captured in art and material culture. It is a real joy to be in the presence of experts who not only understand their subject matter but also the audience they are sharing their knowledge with ... Linda Collins and Siobhan Clarke bring a magnificent and dreadful king to life through the visual medium of his paintings, and in doing so create an impression of knowing the man more intimately. The Art of Kingship is indeed an apt title for this little book that offers us an enormous visual slice of Henry’s life -- Florian Schweizer, CEO of the Arts SocietyA brisk, useful introduction to the king as collector, full of intriguing detail about the ways in which Henry went about altering the common European conception of his country as culturally backward and lacking interest in the visual arts -- Mark Bostridge, The Spectator
£14.39
Running Press,U.S. A Big Important Art Book Now with Women
Book SynopsisCelebrate 45 women artists, and gain inspiration for your own practice, with this beautiful exploration of contemporary creators from the founder of The Jealous Curator. Walk into any museum, or open any art book, and you''ll probably be left wondering: where are all the women artists? A Big Important Art Book (Now with Women) offers an exciting alternative to this male-dominated art world, showcasing the work of dozens of contemporary women artists alongside creative prompts that will bring out the artist in anyone!This beautiful book energizes and empowers women, both artists and amateurs alike, by providing them with projects and galvanizing stories to ignite their creative fires. Each chapter leads with an assignment that taps into the inner artist, pushing the reader to make exciting new work and blaze her own artistic trail. Interviews, images, and stories from contemporary women artists at the top of their game provide added inspiration, and h
£20.90
Workman Publishing E Is for Edward
£46.32
McClelland & Stewart Inc. The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle Box Set
Book Synopsis
£32.79
