Search results for ""prestel""

Eichner was a fixture of 1990s New York City nightlife and served as both its official and unofficial photographer in an era before cellphones and selfies. In this book, readers go beyond the velvet ropes and into the spaces that witnessed some of the decade’s most incredible and sought-after parties. Previously unpublished, these intoxicating full-color photographs capture the over-the- top costumes, non-stop dancing, glitter, confetti, sex, drugs, and music that made 90s New York unlike any other place. Celebrities abound, from Leonardo DiCaprio, Dennis Hopper, and Tupac to Joan Rivers, Michael Musto, and Donald Trump. Eichner takes you to many of the city’s hot spots, including the Limelight, the Tunnel, Webster Hall, Club Expo, and Club USA. Texts by famous club owner Peter Gatien and BuzzFeed photo essay editor Gabriel H. Sanchez offer a historic and cultural perspective on an era when New York City was more affordable and every night saw artists, bankers, drag queens, musicians, and poets reveling together.

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This spellbinding look at the history and development of illusionistic art reveals wide-ranging techniques that have piqued the public’s fascination with this medium. Beautifully reproduced, the images featured in the book includes centuries-old work such as the scenery at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy, and the ceiling frescos at the Würzburg Residence in Germany, that showcase processes such as trompe l’oeil and anamorphosis. It also features work from the 20th and 21st centuries, including Rene Magritte’s classic surrealist works; M. C. Escher’s magical and mathematically precise drawings; the seemingly undulating paintings of Bridget Riley; the manipulated photography of Andreas Gursky; Duane Hanson’s eerily lifelike sculptures; JR’s larger-than-life portrait photographs; and George Rousse’s mind- bending constructions. The book also has examples of amazing street art including subway graffiti and a sidewalk painting that makes pedestrians think twice. This extraordinary and informative guide to all kinds of artistic trickery will satisfy scholars as well as everyday fans.

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Arguably the greatest artist of the Baroque period, Peter Paul Rubens was an accomplished painter and draughtsman, as well as a valued diplomat. This accessible examination of his life and work looks at every aspect of Rubens’s oeuvre; from his commissioned portraits of royalty and the nobility to his magnificent representations of ancient myths, Biblical stories, and historical events. This incisive biography traces his life as a student in Venice, where he encountered the works of Titian and Tintoretto, the establishment of his studio in Antwerp, and the lucrative patronages of Marie de Medici and Phillip IV. Full page reproductions of Rubens’s work communicate his energetic and dynamic style, along with his masterful use of color and sensuous depictions of the human body.

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In Above the Clouds, Scott Mead contemplated the endless horizons outside of a plane’s window and the inner and outer journeys they bring about. Now he turns his gaze back to earth, where the view is just as extraordinary. Inspired by William Eggleston, Mead’s former teacher, this series of paired photographs focuses on composition, texture, light, shadows, and color to show how nature and the built world can mirror and contain each other. Although not always immediately obvious, the qualities these images share and the relationships between them help us see the world with a new perspective, with results that are in turn evocative, exhilarating, and lyrical. Writer and poet Brad Leithauser’s thoughtful and reflective introduction sheds additional light on the complex and joyous interaction between the photographs and the emotions they create. All royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the Ukraine Relief Effort.

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Filled with information and free from cultural hang-ups, this gender-neutral book is directed at anybody that’s ever dealt with having a period. Writer and influencer Tara Costello has been writing about menstruation for more than a decade and, here, she pulls together her research and experience into a book that’s wide-ranging, inclusive, and fun. Boldly illustrated by Mary Purdie, Red Moon Gang tackles every aspect of the menstrual cycle—from the biology and science behind why you bleed every month, to the latest findings on hormonal fluctuations (aka, why you’re PMSing so bad). It takes a deep dive into the different types of menstrual products available, including their pros and cons, and covers various period conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Drawing from her own experience, Costello explores how having a period shaped her relationship to her body and her place in the world. And she discusses topics that aren’t generally covered in health class too—such as how periods are a particular challenge to those experiencing body dysmorphia, individuals living in poverty, and disabled people. Finally, she offers up a Period Toolkit, listing products and retailers she loves, tips on how to make menstruating easier, and resources for further education.

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The idea of “renaissance,” or rebirth, arose in Italy as a way of reviving the art, science, and scholarship of the Classical era. It was also powered by a quest to document artistic “reality” according to newly discovered scientific and mathematical principles. By the late 15th century, Italy had become the recognised European leader in the fields of painting, architecture, and sculpture. But why was Florence the centre of this burgeoning creativity, and how did it spread to other Italian cities? Brimming with vivid reproductions of works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, and others, this book showcases the creative achievements that traveled from Florence to Rome to Venice. Art historian Norbert Wolf explores the influence of secular and religious patronage on artistic development; how the urban structure and way of life allowed for such a rich exchange of ideas; and how ideas of humanism informed artists reaching toward the future while clinging to the ideals of the past. Insightful, accessible, and fascinating, this thoroughly researched book highlights the connections and mutual influences of Florence, Rome, and Venice as well as their intriguing rivalries and interdependencies.

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Modernist fans will want to dive right into the pages of this guide to remarkable buildings designed by famous architects from Alvar Aalto to Charlie Zehnder. Featuring over 130 unique structures that span the globe, this book covers the full spectrum of modernist principles from Bauhaus to Brutalism. Author and designer Stefi Orazi choses buildings that are open to the public, with some even available for overnight stays. Full-colour photography of the exterior and interiors highlight incredible details such as the bright red drum fireplace in Giancarlo de Carlo’s Ca’ Romanino, Urbino, Italy, or the constructivist-like staircase in Renaat Braem’s house and studio in Antwerp, Belgium. Each building is accompanied by informative text offering visitor information and insights into its history. Whether you're looking for a unique holiday experience or a global overview of Modernist architecture, Modernist Escapes stylishly documents these unforgettable spaces.

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Van Gogh’s A Wheatfield, with Cypresses and Georges Seurat’s Bathers at Asnières are two of the most famous and popular paintings in London’s National Gallery. These activity books allow adults and children to understand how the two artists used colors to create vibrant and luminous scenes. Opening with a brief informative essay, each book contains thousands of colored round stickers and a poster “canvas” of colored outlines – readers simply need to match the stickers to the outlines found on the poster to recreate the paintings. It's not necessary to place each sticker on precisely the right outline. As a result, every finished poster will be its own original work of art. With a handy folder-style flap that allows for easy storage and transportation of the artwork in progress, this activity book is perfect for hours of entertainment, relaxation, or meditation, as well as for unwinding at the end of a busy day.

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Shedding new light on the renowned Renaissance artist, this book examines all of da Vinci's known paintings using recent advances in technology and the latest art historical research. While Leonardo da Vinci is one of history's most studied and renowned artists, there are many myths surrounding his work. Beginning with his birth and early maturity in the workshops of the Florentine masters, Alessandro Vezzosi delves into the provenance of disputed works such as Madonna Litta and La Bella Principessa. He demonstrates how recent advances in technology have aided researchers in studying and restoring da Vinci's art--including uncovering forgeries--and he explores the artist's scientific achievements in the fields of optics and paint composition. An exquisitely produced plate section looks at the most significant aspects of da Vinci's work, and offers numerous comparative examples in the form of archival documents, preparatory studies, and contemporary paintings. A fitting tribute to da Vinci, this wide ranging book applies 21st-century knowledge to help answer centuries-old questions about the Renaissance genius.

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Sarah Glover loves to cook, whether it’s on the edge of a windswept cliff, in a clearing in the forest, or on a sandy stretch of beach. Although she’s made a career as a chef in Australia and New York City, her heart lives outdoors. Filled with gorgeous photographs from the shores of Tasmania and beaches of Sydney to the mountains of Australia’s east coast, this cookbook shares her recipes and secrets to inspire others to cook and eat outside. She offers tips for preparing food over an open flame as well as a list of basic outdoor cooking equipment. Anyone who thinks camping food begins and ends with coffee and toasted marshmallows will be surprised to discover how easy it is to create a stunning four-course meal with a few pots and one fire. From solid staples like tender roast chicken and potatoes to dinner-party-worthy kumquat bellinis and quail with truffles, Glover sets the stage for any kind of outdoor experience. Her recipes are simple and straightforward—often involving only a handful of ingredients—and her instructions are breezy and clear. Whether it’s a quiet retreat in nature or a dawn-to-dusk beach party, Sarah Glover has a menu that will satisfy your hunger for fresh, modern food eaten in the great outdoors.

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Not too long ago, it might have seemed impossible that cannabis would step out of the shadows into the mainstream. But now, as legalization sweeps the globe, a new weed culture is evolving with its own set of rules—and thousands of new devotees eager to learn them. Journalist Michelle Lhooq lives in Los Angeles and is at the forefront of this revolution. Through her own expertise as well as interviews with stars from the weed scene, she presents a captivating glimpse into the wild new frontier of cannabis. This witty, insightful guidebook offers useful tips on how to smoke joints, vapes, and concentrates; make edibles and infused cocktails; grow the plant at home; and find the best cannabis stores. It imparts the wisdom of renowned potheads such as pioneering dub music producer Lee “Scratch” Perry and includes interviews with the cannabis industry’s most exciting and innovative figures, from a lauded chef who puts on a gourmet weed dinner series, to the editors of a weed-centric magazine, to a “cannasexual” sex educator, and more. Complete with vibrant new hand-drawn illustrations by the artist Thu Tran, Weed is cutting-edge, comprehensive, and brimming with sparkling personalities—an essential introduction to pot for both newbies and die-hards alike.

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Anyone who loves their garden knows that there’s something happening in nature every day of the year. Whether it’s the first crocus of spring, summer’s explosion of colors, fall’s abundant harvest, or the renewing dormancy of winter these outdoor sanctuaries offer daily opportunities for investigation, contemplation, and appreciation. This stunning daybook offers 365 elegant photos of some of the world’s most exquisite gardens, following the yearly cycle of growth and rebirth. Each photo is accompanied by engaging texts such as planting tips, design techniques, natural history, and botanical facts that provide both ideas and helpful information. In addition, there is room on each spread for gardeners to record and preserve their own daily observations and reflections. The perfect keepsake for gardeners of all levels of expertise, this beautiful daybook deepens the rewards of gardening all year round.

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Throughout his career, Gustav Klimt completed hundreds of paintings and thousands of drawings of delicate beauty, many of them featuring the female form. Designed to imitate an artist's sketchbook, this gorgeous volume reproduces Klimt's most beautiful erotic sketches and watercolors. The experience of viewing them will awaken the senses and afford the reader the guilty pleasure of leafing through an artist's most private visions.

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Designers have shaped our modern age, whether it's the chair we're sitting in, the computer we're reading on, or the house we're living in. Design is everywhere, and this volume profiles fifty of the most influential figures over the past one hundred years. From the first bentwood chairs by Thonet to the holistically designed worlds of Bauhaus and Le Corbusier, and from the signature styles of designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Eileen Gray, and Philippe Starck to internationally- known brands like Swatch, Muji, and Apple, the designers presented here are profiled in double-page spreads packed with fascinating background information, photographs, and illustrations. As inspiring as it is informative, this far-reaching book celebrates the impact that design has on our daily life.

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Starting with the Renaissance, this accessible and lively survey takes readers around the world and through history, from Filippo Brunelleschi through Antoni Gaudi to Frank Gehry. Double-page spreads feature full-color illustrations, informative sidebars, and a timeline. A concise and accessible architectural history, this book is a fascinating look at the enormous variety of ways architects have helped define their eras.

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Presented in a style as stunning as the prints it celebrates, this survey of Hiroshige tells the fascinating story of the last great practitioner of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." Hiroshige is considered to be the tradition's most poetic artist and his work had a marked influence on Western painting towards the end of the 19th century. Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Paul Ce zanne, and James Whistler were inspired by Hiroshige's serene depictions of the natural world. Arranged chronologically, this book illustrates through text and magnificent reproductions Hiroshige's youth and early career; his artistic development in the genre of landscape prints; his depictions of Edo and the provinces; the flower and bird prints; and his many popular books and paintings. It discusses the historic and cultural environment in which Hiroshige flourished and the many reasons his art continues to be revered and imitated. Filled with 300 color reproductions, and featuring a clamshell box and Japanese-style binding, this volume is destined to become the definitive examination of Hiroshige's oeuvre.

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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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This large-format, lavishly illustrated book offers a comprehensive survey of the fin-desiecle and modernist painting of Scandinavia. This book features an enormous variety of artists and works that explore the impact of Nordic geography, history, social mores, and national identities on the region s painters. Focusing on the core countries Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the Danish-German border region, the authors present a thematically organized overview of Nordic art between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawing from the most recent scholarship, the book considers the prevalent themes and subjects, such as landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, interiors, modern city life, and abstraction, and analyzes various works by artists such as Edvard Munch, Vilhelm Hammershoi, Helene Schjerfbeck, Johannes S. Kjarval, and Sigrid Hjerten. It looks at the rise of modernism in Nordic art and discusses the artistic interaction between North and Central Europe. A final chapter is devoted to the significance of Nordic painting today.Comprehensive and authoritative, this beautifully illustrated book is certain to become the standard volume on Nordic art. "

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One of the most influential artists and thinkers of his time comes to life in this stunning graphic biography inspired by Morris' designs and filled with the colors and patterns that defined the Arts and Crafts Movement.Readers of all ages will learn much from this unique biography that highlights the most important aspects of the artist's life and career. It traces his childhood fascination with medieval history, nature, and his friendships with the Pre-Raphaelite BrotherhoodDante Gabriel Rosetti, Edward Burne-Jonesand with other leading figures of the day such as Philip Webb and John Ruskin.It takes readers inside Morris' famous homesRed House, which became a hub for artistic and intellectual activities, and served as a testing ground for his ideas about the integration of art and daily life; and Kelmscott Manor, a tranquil retreat whose natural surroundings and historic setting resonated with his romantic ideals. The visual narrative captures key mo

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This landmark volume offers a major re-assessment of the art that emerged in Britain in the twenty years following the end of the Second World War: a period of anxiety, profound social change and explosive creativity. Published to coincide with the Barbican Centre’s 40th anniversary, it draws together the work of fifty artists, exploring a period straddled precariously between the horror of the past and the promise of the future.Spanning painting, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and photography, Postwar Modern will explore a rich field of experiment which challenges the idea that Britain was a cultural backwater at this time. Through new texts by Jane Alison, Hilary Floe, Ben Highmore, Hammad Nassar and Greg Salter, the book looks afresh at celebrated artists such as Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Lucian Freud and Eduardo Paolozzi, shown in dialogue with lesser-known figures. These will include those, like Francis Newton Souza, Avinash Chandra and Robert Adams, who were acclaimed by contemporaries but neglected in subsequent history-making; others, like Kim Lim, Anwar Jalal Shemza and Franciszka Themerson, are only now attracting the attention they deserve. Throughout their work, vital shared preoccupations become visible: gender, class, race and nationhood; the body, the bombsite, and the home. It is a period resonating strongly with our own: as the UK emerges from more than a decade of austerity and confronts the challenges of post-pandemic reconstruction, society is asking similarly deep questions about who we want and need to be.

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Capturing fleeting natural impressions played a central role in the art of Claude Monet. He deeply engaged with the landscape and light of different places, from the metropolis of Paris to the Seine villages of Argenteuil and Giverny. This lavishly illustrated new paperback edition explores the development of Monet’s art from the 1850s to the 1920s, focusing on the places, both at home and on his frequent travel, from which he drew inspiration for his painting. In addition, the book traces the critical shift in Monet’s art that occurred when he began to focus on series of the same subjects such as haystacks, poplars, and the water lilies and pond at his meticulously designed garden in Giverny. Insightful and revealing, the book deepens our appreciation of Monet’s art and allows us to experience anew his gift for bringing the natural world to life.

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Despite its name, documenta’s primary concerns are neither with the simple documentation of individual artists and their work nor with developments in art history, but instead with providing a historical space where art reflects and comments on social constellations and political or social change, or demands it through art interventions. documenta is not only a historical testimony and event, but also a show at which—through the medium of art—self-interpretation becomes the catalyst for debate and historical change. For the first time, this book places the history of documenta in the context of the political, cultural and societal development of Germany during the second half of the twentieth century, illustrating how art and history can be explored in terms of a mutually dependent relationship.

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Roughly twenty-five years after Hokusai released his series of ukiyo-e prints depicting Japan’s most recognisable symbol, Hiroshige took on the subject as well—a common practice among the era’s printmakers. This volume features reproductions of the horizontal version of Hiroshige’s woodblock series, first published in 1852, and which reveal a mature artist working at the height of his powers. In the background of each of the views Mount Fuji is featured under varying vantage points and changing lights, towering over sites of sublime beauty, often animated by a few characters living in harmony with nature. These exquisite fold-out plates are perfect for appreciating Hiroshige’s eye for composition, his nontraditional use of line, and the subtle gradations of colour and mood. Viewers can also learn much about daily life and culture in 19th-century Japan through carefully applied detail and symbolism. In his introductory booklet, Jocelyn Bouquillard provides captions for each print, as well as an appreciation of the remarkable and painstaking process of woodblock printing. Packaged in an elegant slipcase, these volumes reflect the beautiful artistry and traditions that are embodied in the prints themselves.

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Widely considered to be the foundational text of the American landscape tradition, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature urges Americans to value and immerse themselves in their country’s landscape, to build American culture from America's nature. Nearly two centuries after the original publication of the essay Nature by Emerson, this captivating book by critic and historian Tyler Green brings together a selection of artistic works in dialog with Emerson’s text for the first time. Green also offers his own fascinating take on Nature through new research into how the essay was informed by Emerson’s experiences of art and, in turn, how it informed American art well into the twentieth century. The result is a unique melding of essay, art, and ideas that will draw new readers to Emerson’s writings, while also introducing a fresh perspective on a critical contribution to the American canon and showing what impact Emerson's text still has for the US to this day.

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An opulent fusion of sensuality, symbolism, and artistic ingenuity, this magnificent boxed-set features stunning color reproductions of Klimt's essential works in an accordion-fold format accompanied by a separate booklet with background and descriptions of each painting. Gustav Klimt's luminous paintings are particularly suited for an accordion-fold presentation. As each painting unfolds into a lavish reproduction, Klimt's dazzling colors and intricate patterns spring to life. This volume includes several highlights of Klimt's works including The Kiss, his portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer, The Tree of Life, Danae, and Death and Life. The stunning reproductions allow readers to experience close up Klimt's intricate details and artful use of gold leaf; his art's symbolism and emotional power; his decorative aesthetic, and beguiling landscapes. A separate booklet with explanatory captions providing additional background and historic context accompanies the main volume. Klimt's many fan

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Now available in paperback, this beautifully illustrated biography is the perfect introduction to Monet's artistic achievements. How did Monet's childhood at the seaside influence his art? Why was he so fascinated with water lilies? And why are his paintings still so popular? These and other questions are answered in this lively biography that features exquisite reproductions and an accessible and engaging text. As they learn how the artist employed light and color to magical effect, young readers will develop an understanding of Impressionism's basic principles and Monet's singular genius.

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Now available in paperback, this exploration of Degas' ballet paintings shows young readers how the Impressionist master used light and color to capture dancers in motion. Degas spent years studying the delicate movements and crystalline precision of ballerinas. His paintings were praised not only for their astonishing detail and emotion, but also for their meticulous depictions of ballet poses and dance steps. Featuring gorgeous reproductions of some of the artist's most famous paintings and sketches, this accessible and lively introduction to Degas' ballet paintings examines the Impressionist techniques that bring his dancers to life.

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No one knows who exactly invented the wheel, but in the inventive hands of illustrator Tom Schamp young readers will have great fun learning about all the ways wheels have rolled through history. From prehistoric carts to cars of tomorrow, this big, fun book takes a historic journey through a world where everything has wheels, from the Trojan horse to the Harley Davidson; from the stagecoach and the steam train to the Vespa and the Ferrari; from skateboards to electric scooters. Every spread of this deliriously entertaining and educational book is filled with Tom Schamp's quirky and colorful art. His sly, subtle texts will make older readers smile. Younger readers will return again and again to these playfully crowded pages to discover what different countries' emergency vehicles look like; to learn about buses of every imaginable dimension and weight; and to choose which bike they'd use to win a race. Each viewing will reveal charming new details that are as absurdly funny as they are educationally rewarding.

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This charming and relatable story about being afraid brings back Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog, two of Britta Teckentrup’s many marvelous characters who embody human emotions young readers can identify with and easily understand. From dark basements to deserted streets, swooping birds to cars’ glaring headlights, menacing foxes to friendly cats, the two friends spend a day and evening confronting things that are both frightful and harmless. As the two hedgehogs walk through their neighborhood, they talk casually about their fears and strategies for dealing with them—whistling, holding hands, counting, being still, and accepting kindness. Few children’s illustrators working today are able to capture nature’s lush colors and textures quite like Teckentrup. Vibrating with warmth and charm, this gentle story offers valuable skills for identifying and dealing with the things that make us scared.

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One of Paris's iconic symbols comes to life in this picture book that explores the tragic 2019 fire that destroyed parts of Notre Dame Cathedral as well as the heroic efforts to save the building and its valuable history. Gorgeous full-page illustrations take readers to the top of the cathedral, and into the studios of restoration artists, to tell a story of how Paris's famous rooster nearly perished and was brought back to life to keep watch over the city. From his perch atop a weathervane, the copper rooster enjoys one of the best views in Paris-even if the wind does blow him around a bit. But one fateful day a fire breaks out. Sirens sound, firefighters unroll their hoses, and the flames lick at his feathers. The rooster plunges to earth, crying out for his beloved partner Esmerelda. Gravely injured, he is discovered under the rubble by a worker who carefully lifts him out of the wreckage and brings him to a busy workroom. Will he be healed? Will he live to preside again over the city he loves, and in the company of Esmerelda? With sweeping views of Paris, dramatic scenes of the devastating fire, and fascinating insights into the restoration process, this storybook helps kids appreciate the historic and symbolic significance of buildings such as Notre Dame. An illustrated appendix provides background information that readers of every age will find useful.

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Eugene the architect designs buildings that are incredibly straight and orderly. He is very proud of his latest work—an enormous house with perfectly perpendicular walls and windows. One day he is surprised to find a tree growing in what will be the house’s living room. Instead of cutting it down, Eugene studies the tree, marveling at the way its branches, roots, leaves, and trunk grow in elegant proportions. Suddenly, Eugene sees nature in an entirely new way—not as the opposite of precise order, but as something with its own type of perfection. Thibaut Rassat’s playful illustrations introduce young readers to basic architectural and geometric principles while amusing them with Eugene’s prickly personality and joyful discovery. They will come away with a new appreciation for architecture and for the unexpected twists and turns that make the natural world—and our life in it—so fascinating.

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How does a plane move through the air? What is turbulence? What do those lines on the runways mean? All these questions and many more are answered in this gorgeously illustrated history of planes and flight. The book opens with a basic introduction to plane anatomy and shows how aircrafts have developed over the ages. Readers will then learn about aerodynamics, the mechanics of wing shape and lift, and how ailerons, propellers, and flaps work. There’s even a section on communications systems, runway design, and GPS. Profiles of famous historic planes illustrate basic principles throughout the book. Readers will find out about record-breaking flights across continents and oceans; how “flying wings” evolved into the B-2 bomber; and where the world’s most treacherous runways are located. A section on experimental aircraft looks at zeppelins, flying cars, and the fate of the Concorde jet. Jan Van Der Veken’s lushly colored, retro drawings detail everything from plane design to the physics of flight and provide the perfect companion to his engaging text. Budding aviators will linger over every detail of this information-packed book that serves both to demystify and celebrate the miracle of flight.

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This dynamic book opens with a familiar and joyful sight—a baby bird hatching from an egg that sits in a nest high on a tree. The following pages hold even more delightful surprises, as each spread opens to reveal a different animal and the kind of egg it comes from. Did you know that crocodile mothers walk from the shore to the water holding their eggs in their mouths? That emperor penguin fathers keep their eggs warm by balancing them on their feet? Or that the milkweed plant is the only place a monarch butterfly will lay her eggs? Delicately detailed and boldly coloured, every scene is a work of art that depicts its animal’s unique markings and natural habitat. As they pore over each elaborately constructed page, young readers will learn valuable information about how different animals hatch from eggs in the natural world.

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It’s early spring and below the earth’s surface seeds are just starting to sprout. One by one they stretch through the dirt and towards the sun, extending their shoots and leaves and growing tall. All except for one seedling, who isn’t quite ready. Each page of this gentle but powerfully evocative book demonstrates how some of us are different. As most of the seeds transform into strong flowers, they block out the sun from the one left behind. But the little seedling persists, twisting and turning until, with the help of bird and insect friends, it finds its own place to grow and blossom. In the end, this little seed turns into a flower that’s just as beautiful and healthy as all the others. Hailed by Publishers Weekly as “delicate, complex, extravagant, beautiful and strong,” Teckentrup’s inviting and softly coloured illustrations provide the perfect backdrop for this moving tale about being unique while subtly teaching kids about the life cycle of plants.

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Did you know that Mozart’s pet starling was the inspiration for his Piano Concerto No. 17? Or that writer Dorothy Parker loved animals so much she let a pair of alligators swim in her bathtub? These are just a couple of the stories in this delightful and surprising collection that profiles the strong bond between humans and their pets. Some of these stories are touching: Frida Kahlo memorialised her pet deer Granizo in her painting The Wounded Deer. Some are a little quirky: Albert Einstein, convinced that his parrot, Bibo, was sad, told bad jokes to cheer the bird up. Each of these wonderfully entertaining stories is made even more appealing by Katherine Quinn’s captivating illustrations. Rich in detail and reminiscent of folk art, they capture the humour and poignancy of these fascinating pairings. Together these stories and illustrations will create lasting impressions that will help young readers identify historic figures and spark joy in friendships with the animals in their own lives.

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Sometimes your eyes can play tricks on you, especially in the dark. This enchanting picture book shows how New York City can look quite peculiar at night. Each brightly colored spread is overlaid with a sheet of translucent blue paper and when lifted, voilà! A space ship and Martian become The Guggenheim, a giant serpent is actually the subway, King Kong’s jungle turns into Central Park, and a superhero takes on the shape of a construction worker. Exhilarating and captivating, all the scenes are easily switched between day and night and will take the reader on a unique journey that lets imaginations run wild while revealing that some things at night aren’t as scary as they seem.

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Is there anything as simple as an egg? Is there anything as complex? In this gorgeous picture book, Britta Teckentrup portrays eggs through the eyes of an artist. From hummingbirds to the extinct elephant bird, illustrations of the avian world's smallest and largest eggs demonstrate the variety present in nature. Pastel studies explore the rainbow of soft colors and intricate patterns that make eggs of common birds seem incredibly striking. In Teckentrup's hands, a scattering of broken egg shells become abstract art; a nest of unhatched eggs suggest the possibility and promise of life. Her studies of songbirds and nests are themselves beautifully composed works of color and line. A lovely meditation on the diversity of eggs, this magnificent book offers hours of lingering pleasure, and becomes fertile ground for conversation and imagination.

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Parrots, trees, deer, family members, friends, flowers, the sun and the moon-Frida Kahlo's use of symbolism and colour wonderfully lends itself to teaching children about the artistic process. Through illustrations of her work and photographs of Kahlo and her family, children are encouraged to learn about her life, artworks and important relationships. An engaging text and gorgeous reproductions call attention to Kahlo's use of bold colour and natural imagery, as well as her ingenious use of perspective, collage and varying styles. Children will learn much about creative self-expression through this beautifully designed and insightful book about Kahlo's life and work.

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On a stormy winter's day, a baby boy, Naoki, is swept into a fisherman's boat by a great wave. Years pass, but still Naoki does not grow. Must he return to the ocean in order to become a young man? The answer arrives in the form of a mythic fish. Japanese artist Hokusai is one of the world's most celebrated printmakers. His famous woodcut, 'The Great Wave', epitomizes the artist's characteristic techniques and themes. In this children's book, the artist's masterpiece is the genesis for a simple but compelling story, beautifully illustrated in pictures that recall Hokusai's brilliant use of detail, perspective and colour. A stunning reproduction of the woodcut itself is featured in the book, supplemented by information about the artist and his work. At once modern and classic, The Great Wave introduces young readers to a beloved artist and his timeless portrayals of nature and transformation.

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Some of the world's most renowned pictures are also the most exciting to view and discuss. From Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon to the fall of the Berlin Wall; Lindbergh's historic landing in Paris to Nelson Mandela's release from prison; portraits of Albert Einstein, Princess Diana and the Beatles; the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico-these and other history-making photographs are presented in double-page spreads that offer stunning reproductions of the images themselves, helpful background information on the events and people they portray, and perspectives on the circumstances that inspired them. Paging through these photographs, children will learn not only about people and events that changed the world, but how photographs preserve and help us understand these important moments.

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This publication is the first to focus solely on the abstract strategies and processes contained in Gerhard Richter’s body of work. In the early 1960s, the artist began to call painting into question, an exploration that continues to occupy him to this day. In the 1970s, he responded to the rejection of painting by creating a series of monochrome works in gray. Moreover, he viewed the colour gray as a means of addressing political themes without depicting them in an idealized manner. In his Inpainting series of the 1970s, Richter made brushstrokes and the application of paint his subject. In other works, he photographed small details from his palette and transferred them onto large canvases in a photorealistic manner. In his colour charts, he subjected painting to an objective process by leaving the arrangement of the colours to chance. Since 1976, Richter has created a series of abstract works by applying paint with a brush, scraper, and palette knife, alternating between conscious decision-making and random processes.

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Hailed as “British dance’s true iconoclast”, Michael Clark is a defining cultural figure in the contemporary dance world. Since emerging in the early 1980s as a prodigy at London’s Royal Ballet School, Clark has remained at the forefront of innovation in dance, working in close collaboration with a broad range of pioneering artists such as Sarah Lucas, Leigh Bowery, Charles Atlas, Cerith Wyn Evans, Peter Doig, Elizabeth Peyton, Wolfgang Tillmans and musicians such as Mark E. Smith, Wire, Scritti Politti, and Relaxed Muscle. As a young choreographer, Clark brought together his classical ballet training with London’s club culture, fashion, and punk rock to establish himself as one of the most innovative artists working in modern dance. His work—variously referencing punk, rock, and pop—is marked by a mixture of technical rigor and experimentation in a way that disrupts and reimagines our understanding of dance. This book features a series of enlightening essays and vivid illustrations of Clark’s best-known performances, alongside archival material. Loosely tracing the chronological evolution of his career, a variety of cultural figures— ranging from Jarvis Cocker to Charles Atlas—write about the countercultural undercurrents with which Clark’s work connects.

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A prolific social critic, Paul McCarthy is best known for his work in performance, installation, film, and sculpture. His works reference American cultural archetypes such as Disneyland, B movies, soap operas, comic books, and contemporary politics. His drawings and films skewer, often profanely, mass media and consumer-driven American society by pointing to its hypocrisy, double standards, and repression. McCarthy’s work is also deeply influenced by European avant-garde art, especially by figures such as Joseph Beuys and Samuel Beckett, and Viennese Actionism. McCarthy’s drawings share the same visual language as his three-dimensional works: violence, humour, sex, politics, art history, and popular culture. Featuring 50 years of works on paper in charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, and collage, this selection includes pieces from McCarthy’s renowned “White Snow” series, his contributions to the “Plato in L.A.” project at the Getty Museum, and recent sketches in which, unsurprisingly given the current political climate, McCarthy’s gloves-off approach feels both necessary and inevitable. This book reveals an important aspect of his drawing techniques, and situates his works on paper as one of the most significant in contemporary art.

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During his lifetime, Dürer found tremendous success as a printmaker and painter, taking commissions from prominent figures such as Frederick the Wise, for whom Dürer produced the masterpiece Adoration of the Magi, and Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. While Dürer’s paintings and prints are highly lauded, his drawings and studies are equally important . Featured in this book are Dürer’s drawings from the Albertina Museum’s preeminent collection. The Albertina Museum houses the world’s most important collection of drawings by Dürer which include family portraits, studies of animals and plants, and studies of the human body. Influenced by his contacts to Italy and by his humanist friends he showed a strong interest in human proportions, anatomy, and perspective. This book showcases more than 100 of Dürer’s drawings including Hare, Self Portrait at the Age of 13, and Melencolia I, accompanied by paintings and prints. Featuring scholarly essays and beautifully reproduced works, this book shows the importance of Dürer’s drawings in his oeuvre and how he helped drawing become an appreciated medium in its own right.

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Charmion von Wiegand started painting figuratively in 1926, when she received encouragement from her friend and painter, Joseph Stella. After being hired as an American reporter based in Soviet Moscow from 1929 to 1932, von Wiegand established herself as a preeminent art critic who embraced progressive ideas. She moved back to New York City in 1932 and became immersed in the avant-garde movement. Von Wiegand developed a close circle of friends including Hans Richter, Carl Holty, and John Graham. In 1941, when she met and befriended Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, she changed her painting style completely and was finally considered an artist in her own right. Highly influenced by his work, von Wiegand became interested in combining abstraction, Theosophy, and Eastern religions including her adoptive religion, Buddhism. The result was modern geometric abstract paintings that were imbued with Eastern imagery. This comprehensive volume on von Wiegand showcases gloriously illustrated works from all phases of her career. It also contains insightful essays and an array of previously unpublished material from the artist’s archives, including correspondence with Mondrian.

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James Tissot is best known for his paintings of fashionable women and society life in the late 19th century. Born in Nantes, France, he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he befriended James McNeill Whistler and Edgar Degas. Tissot’s career defies categorization and he never formally belonged to the Impressionist circle despite an invitation from Degas. An astute businessman, Tissot garnered commercial and critical success on both sides of the English Channel while defying traditional conventions. He received recognition at the time from patrons and peers, and even his society portraits reveal a rich and complex commentary on Victorian and fin-de-siècle culture. This lavishly illustrated book, featuring paintings, enamels, and works on paper, explores Tissot’s life and career from his early period in Nantes to his later years when he made hundreds of spiritual and religious works. The volume also includes essays that introduce new scholarship to redefine Tissot’s placement within the narratives of the 19th-century canon.

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