1 comments about International Annual of Floral Art 06/07.

1. This book is inspiring! It set my mind reeling with the possibilities in this medium! I like it so much I have ordered last year's book and can't wait for it to arrive. I was also delighted to see a sense of humor emerge in some of the designs! Floral art can express more than love, apologies and sympathy. This book is eye-opening!

No comments about Dada in the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art.

2 comments about Mainstreams of Modern Art.

1. I found this in my father's collection of college books, and it was my first introduction to the world of art, modern or otherwise, at the age of 14. I didn't understand a lot of what Canaday was saying being so young, but some of it must have stuck with me. Later in college, where I majored in physiology and botany, I took several art history courses in Baroque and Modern Art, and got the highest grade in the class, higher than the art history majors.
   
   Now I can read the book with a much greater understanding and appreciation, thirty years later. Canaday's strengths are in showing how the modern age grew out of Neo-Classical painting such as Ingres, the pre-Impressionists such as the Barbizon painters, and the Impressionists themselves, and in showing how modern developments are similar, or different from, their precursors. Many art historians tend to see each period as a rejection and even a revolution from the old, such as in the great Arnold Hauser's massive work on Mannerism, but Canaday avoids such dramatic but extreme positions.
   
   He is aso a talented presenter of modern art itself, a period which is, I think, a lot of fun to write about what with it's fast pace and all the dynamism and schools that grew up in such a short period of time, not to mention people like Salvador Dali, and Surrealism in general. (I prefer the more contemplative and metaphysical Magritte to Dali, but what the heck, they're both great, no doubt about that). Canaday, covers the modern period from Ingres, Delacroix, Courbet, and others up through the end of World War II, if I remember right.
   
   I should mention, however, that although I like Canaday and agree with his assessment of modern art to some extent (he thought of much of modern art was a fraud and accused prominent artists of duping the public), his views were not popular with artists and the intellectual avante-garde. My view is that while I like and appreciate modern art, I prefer the old masters, who I think were just better artists and painters. Modern artists' rejection of the classical standards may have produced a lot of fun and even interesting stuff, but in my opinion the quality of the work pales in comparison to much of what went before. So in that sense I agree with Canaday, although not completely in that I don't see Modern Art as a complete waste and a fraud.
   
   Canaday also wrote at least a couple mystery novels under a pseudonym which I don't recall anymore, but I never read these so I don't know how good they were.
   
   My book was the earlier 1959 edition of this work, and it still remains one of my favorite books on art. I don't know what happened to Canaday in the years since, but I hope he is alive and well and still penning his interesting, well written, and cogent insights about modern art.



2. Mainstreams of Modern Art takes a comprehensive look at art beginning with the Neo Classical period and ending with the Moderist Era. The book has extensive color plates that examplify the concepts it is trying to convey. This is a perfect book to be used in the setting of a classroom, and would recommend it to all.

No comments about Ribbon Culture: Charity, Compassion and Public Awareness.

No comments about Annette Messager: The Messengers.

1 comments about Monet's Landscapes.

1. Monet's evocative landscapes with their lush and subtle colors, thrilling use of light from various times of the day and the seasons, and varied locations of vantage have rarely been so beautifully presented as in this small but elegant book by Vivian Russell.
   
   Russell has visited many of the sites Monet painted and took photographs not only of the particular subject of his paintings, but also of the surrounding countryside, a fact that adds flavor of place to what must have inspired Monet. Not only does she include the coasts of France and Giverny, Monet's home and famous gardens, but she also traveled to Venice (some of Monet's most ethereal works are from this special haven), Norway, the flower fields of Holland, and the majesty of London.
   
   The photographs are superb and offer interesting information on what Monet decided to edit or to enrich with the impressionist's eye. Russell is a fine writer and her comments and sensitivity to include much information from Monet's letters makes this book not only a perfect coffee table tome, but also a fine adjunct to art students and collectors alike. Highly Recommended! Grady Harp, August 05

5 comments about Sunkissed: Sunwear and the Hollywood Beauty.

1. This book deals with the Sunwear and Hollywood Beauty of the 1930s to the 1950s. That happens to be the subtitle, so it's easy to explain. The book is full of pictures focused on the swimsuit models and pin ups of those years, with such greats as Maureen O'Sullivan, Penny Singleton, Jean Crawford, Betty Gable, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Marlene Dietrich, Dorothy Lamour, Barbara Stanwyck, Karen Randall and much, much more. You'll drool at how sexy the women are. So make sure to put plastic on the book.



2. It's obvious that "Sunkissed" is a labor of love. A nostalgic look at the glamor that was once Hollywood, "Sunkissed" is a trip back in time. The author, Joshua Curtis, captures the essance of the golden age of motion pictures with brilliant color layouts, original photographs and accurate text. This is one of those rare books that should occupy a perminant spot on the shelf because it will never become dated or out of style. A pure joy for any fan of the 1930s and 40s.



3. Great photos, lots of them--my only wish is it went up to 1959 and included more of the 50's. Not many of these beauties look that tan so 'sun kissed' is a good term. If you're looking for a good resource for period bathing suits this is it.



4. This is a book that any classic movie fan will love. It is filled with gorgeous photos of movie stars modeling swimwear. Many of the photos are in color and I have never seen them published anywhere else. Paulette Goddard, Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Gene Tierney, Marie McDonald, and Marilyn Monroe are among the many actresses featured in this terrific book. There is also a nice forward written by Ann Rutherford.



5. This book is full of beautifully restored photo's and insightful commentary. A must have for anyone.

2 comments about The Private Life of a Masterpiece: Uncovering the Forgotten Secrets and Hidden Life Histories of Iconic Works of Art.

1. Author Monica Bohm-Duchen delves into eight famous works of art, and the lives of their creators, for "The Private Life Of A Masterpiece." She explores here the popularity of these masterworks. What has caused them to move so many viewers so deeply? The stories behind their creation and the history of each one, along with corresponding information about their respective artists, are also discussed. Dating from 1501 to 1950, the artworks selected are: Michelangelo's "David"; Leonardo's "Mona Lisa"; Francisco de Goya's "Third of May, 1808," Edouard Manet's "Olympia," Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Edvard Munch's "Scream"; and two 20th-century paintings, Pablo Picasso's "Demoiselles d'Avignon" and Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm." In all, there are 150 black and white photographs and 10 line illustrations in this 240 page book - a real gem for any art lover to treasure. The principal commonality in the pieces chosen for the publication, apart from being well known art icons, is that all eight strike resounding chords within viewers worldwide.
   
   Each painting, and the "David," have their own, in-depth biography. Ms. Bohm-Duchen's rich analytical narrative is what makes this volume so special. This is not a dry text at all. As a matter if fact, I found it to be a real page-turner. The author has thoroughly researched every piece, and writes fascinating commentary on their creation. I was especially intrigued by the text documenting the various methods the artists used to prepare and execute their work. Also, of particular interest are the historical art reviews - how the finished masterpieces were received by the public. For example, when Manet's painting "Olympia" was hung in the Salon of Paris in 1865, it was met with jeers, laughter and disdain by art critics, the public, and the newspapers. Manet was rebelling against the art establishment of the time, and Ms. Bohm-Duchen explains that by painting a real woman, a courtesan at that, instead of an idealized version of "woman," and by disregarding the paths forged by the great masters, Manet greatly shocked viewers. Tidbits like these may not be absolutely necessary for an understanding of art, but the wealth of material the author provides certainly enhanced my appreciation and enjoyment.
   
   Beautifully written and presented, I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fine art.
   JANA



2. Monica Bohm-Duchen has taken 8 famous paintings and told me the story of both the artist and the painting with the understanding that there really is no separation between the artist and his or her painting/s. How I hope that she writes a sequel, another sequel, another sequel! (This time I hope she includes women artists.)

   Especially, this book speaks to artists and art lovers. We artists know that each painting is a spirit that is very much alive.

   Unlike most book discussions of great art, Bohm-Duchen's is a page turner and almost a voyeuristic glimpse into the private lives of 8 artists, not so easily gleaned in the retrospectives and other tomes that speak of the art of these famous artists.I got an amazing pictural look at Jackson Pollock and gained a greater respect for his artistic composition and methodolody. I discovered the history of madness of the van Gogh family here and not in literally dozens of other books on van Gogh and his body of work. Every other book merely said Theo, his benefactor and art gallery owner brother, died about six months after van Gogh and never mentioned madness as the cause, or that his youngest brother killed himself at 32 or that his favorite sister, Wil, also spent time committed to a mental asylum.

   Bravo! Every artist and art lover and artist-to-be needs to read this book now. This book is a gift of joy you give yourself and others.

2 comments about Francisco Goya y Lucientes : 1746-1828.

1. This was my introduction to Goya. The great thing about this book (and about all the books in Phaidon's Art & Ideas Series) is that it does an excellent job of putting the artist in historical context. I think this is really important, because Goya (like David in France) really is inseparable from his time, and we simply can't understand his images if we don't have any idea about what was going on in Spain and the rest of Europe at the time. "The Disasters of War", for example, means so much more to me now that I understand what happened when Napoleon invaded Spain. I was also glad to see that pictures by some of Goya's contemporaries are included, pictures that would otherwise be pretty hard to find.

   Some of the author's interpretations, though, annoyed me. Intellegent readers shouldn't have any problems drawing their own conclusions, but I'm a little more concerned about readers who aren't very good about questioning authors. For example, when talking about "The Second of May 1808" and "The Third of May 1808", Symmons says that the figure stabbing the horse in the first painting is the same man lying dead in the heap of bodies in the second one -- and then she says that repetition of figures like this is a major theme in Goya's works. It is, but apart from the fact that both of these men are wearing green coats, there's no way of saying they are the same man. Maybe Goya said they were, but if he did, the author hasn't pointed that out. Seems minor, but it isn't. Another quirk is the author's search for Goya's sources. I understand that artists borrow motifs from each other every now and then, but when Symmons tries to tie in a couple of Goya's images with political prints by James Gilray, for example, simply because some of Goya's poses (which really aren't that unusual) vaguely resemble some of Gilray's, I think she's going out on an awfully big limb. Maybe Goya did take them from Gilray, but he could have taken them from a thousand other places just as easily, and without more substantial proof of Goya's sources, I just don't see what the author is trying to accomplish. This is a very useful book, but leave room for forming your own opinion about Goya.




2. Janis Tomlinson, the writer of this book, seems primarily concerned in showing that there is a continuity in Goya's work, that it did not suddenly change from light-hearted to dark after Goya went deaf. For the most part, I feel she achieved this end, I for one am convinced. I wish she wrote more on Goya's technique and his personal life, both of which she does not go into much. The 300 or so colour reproductions of Goya's work are excellent, and there are many good close-ups. Unfortunately, Goya produced around 1,800 works, so it is disappointing that only a fraction of them are in this book.

5 comments about Henley: A New York tail.

1. This is a darling book for girls and boys of ALL ages! It was given to my girls as a gift and now we give it as a birthday gift regularly! Cute and a little educational.



2. A story about a very special little dog which should appeal to all ages.. Beautifully told & superbly illustrated.



3. My daughter and I both fell in love with this charming story. Henley and his owner, Lulu are both absolutely fabulous! The artwork and poetic storyline is charming and imaginative. I am planning on stocking up on this wonderful book as Christmas presents for my family.



4. What a darling book about a Japanese Chin and his adventures. The art work is wonderful. Although it is officially a children's book, I appreciate it for the art work and the cute extra details put into the book. If you love dogs you will love this book, especially if you know about the Japanese Chin breed.



5. This is a must-have book to add to your holiday shopping for children of any age. My 6 year old and 3 year old boys have an extreme love for all sort of dogs and instantly fell in love with Henley. We hope Henley and the author will make more journeys together.