No comments about Street Art, Street Life.

1 comments about The Prado Museum.

1. This book contains fine prints of great art from a wonderful museum. It will be valued by persons who like great art, or by people who have visited the Prado and want a momento that they can page through to jog their memory of what they saw there. Some of the prints will be new to them: the Prado's collection is so vast that only a small portion of it can be displayed at a time.
   Obviously, the compilers necessarily had to be selective about what they put in the book. I liked the selection of paintings by Goya but was mildly disappointed that it did not include "Saturn". Also, the compilers have made a decision to broadly cover the artists represented at the Prado, rather than making an exhaustive compilation of some of the artists that a Prado visitor might particularly have focused on, such as El Greco, Velazquez or Goya.
   This is basically a book of prints, so the accompanying text is not, to my mind, a major contribution to the value of the book. The text covers the history of the museum and how the collection came into being. It briefly discusses the different "schools" of art represented in the museum: "Spanish School", "Italian School", "German School", etc. The part of the text dedicated to Velazquez is only a page and a half long (although they are big pages). For somebody without a background in art history who wants to prepare to make their Prado visit more meaningful, I will say that I benefited from reading Tomlinson's "Fransisco Goya y Lucientes: 1746-1828" and Brown's "Velazquez".

5 comments about What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America.

1. I haven't finished reading this book, but it's a real treasure. The pictures even brought me to tears at a couple of points -- yes, I'm a sap. Truly, though, the clothing just seems to resonate with lives long past. They were painstakingly made by hand and worn by men, women and children of varying walks of life, not just the wealthy, although their clothing survived most often, of course. The clothes have stories to tell that in most cases the people who wore them never put to pen and paper.
   The book is exactly what the title says -- a look at how surviving articles of clothing (including shoes, hose, etc.) reveal the circumstances and stages of a person's life in colonial and federal America, not to mention the wider forces at play around them.
   
   I can definitely recommend What Clothes Reveal for history buffs and writers -- not sure about costume designers, but perhaps that's covered in another review.



2. After spending a whole day at a Living History event, trying to justify spending that sort of money on a book. Which at the time was sealed and the vendor would not allow it to be opened. I finally bit the bullet and made the purchase. It is one of my all time favorite clothing books. The images are stunning, both full shots of pieces and close-ups. There are accessories, undergarments, et cetera. It includes a range of styles in the 18th century for men and women. Some children's garments. It is not all just aristocratic or high fashion, though it isn't lacking it either. But, the uberness of this book does not stop there. After I stopped devouring the pictures like a kid in a candy shop I started reading. I was impressed with the practical approach to fashion history that the author took. Instead of focusing on the outrageous and bizarre fads of fashion. The book also touches on how historians have identified, classified and labeled garments. And how they have been right or wrong in their theories, going on to explain the current position of opinion today with scholars in the field. The text flows with interesting facts and a keen wit and humor. There are quite a few amusing side bars, and a lot of "myth busters". I think this would be a welcome addition to any collection.



3. "What Clothes Reveal" is first and foremost a history of American and British wearing apparel from the 18th and early 19th centuries found in the Colonial Williamsburg collection. It is also a social history of the period illustrated by garments and accessories that allows the reader to delve beneath the outer surface silhouette seen in paintings, prints, and on museum mannequins to reveal garment construction, fit, underpinnings, alterations, and simple thrift. While many costume histories focus on a single gender and social class, "What Clothes Reveal" includes examples for men, women, and children--not only gentry but also common folk. While author Baumgarten's "Eighteenth Century Clothing at Williamsburg" was intended to be a catalog of the collection, "What Clothes Reveal" goes several steps further. Baumgarten explores the deeper meaning of individual items and their construction, offers an curatorial interpretation of the garments and objects, and places them in a historical context by identifying details about the original owner where possible. While not intended to be the minute examination of garments in her "Costume Close-up: Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790," it is an important companion. While the general photos are typical, the detail photos are rare in costume histories. Readers shouldn't ignore the sidebars, the timeline, or the footnotes. The extensive bibliography offers a superb list of additional titles to assist with further research. This book is a must for costume historians, curators, collectors, re-enactors, and others who seek to understand 18th and early 19th century garments and the lives and times of those who wore them. Baumgarten unbuttons many mysteries in a thoroughly readable style, leaving the reader anxious for her next contribution to the field of costume history.



4. This remarkable reference book consists of six chapters and a conclusion segment. So much information is included in this work that one can review it on many levels. My interest in this book is 18th century embroidery. The work of an 18th century surface embroiderer is foretold in this book and is portrayed in many venues. Embellished textiles such as stomachers, heavily embroidered pudding caps, women's cord quilted waistoats, swaddling bands for the new infant, and a yellow silk infant gown with a matching embroidered satin cap. Also, stunning embelishments on items such as spangled men's waistcoats, still unmade but outlined, on a large piece of silk are displayed with magnified detail allowing stitch colors, patterns, and directions to be studied. Included in What Clothes Reveal are beautiful examples of embroidered aprons for both the gentile ladies and the common women, different styles of pockets, covered and embroidered buttons, men's embroidered bargello wallets, and impressive men's caps. Baumgarten also included beautiful examples of ladies' fans, a wedding gown, and full maternity and nursing gown details including stays.
   
   I ordered this book upon its release and studied it relentlessly. Afterwards I went to Colonial Williamsburg and experienced first hand this entire collection. With knowing and understanding the inside workings of this display, I was able to totally appreciate and understand the items in front of me.



5. I am a historical seamstress that uses this book to copy the shape and style of Rev.War garments. I really love this book and go back to it over and over. It is a very useful book in my reference library.

5 comments about Live Through This: New York 2005.

1. live through this is one of my favorite art books.
   its beautifully designed and laid out, and you can't ask for anything better from deitch.
   i constantly find inspiration in these pages.



2. My main gripe is that this paperback is shoddy and the pages come apart after a couple
   of reads.
   Otherwise, fun, typical collegetown artwork by pampered kidz who never heard of Iraq.
   The photos try to shock us with underground daring, but in reality, the antics are frat rat.
   Still, the artwork is energetic and there are fairly fresh design elements.
   I think that this book would be useful to red state artists who want to see what the cool
   people are up to.



3. It's absolutly great publication. You will find inside what Deitch thinks its "in". Perfect design.



4. Combine the exhaustive efforts of editor Kathy Grayson with the hippest goings-on in the New York art world and you get a book that is both a work of art in itself, as well as a refreshing guide to the scene. This book is an awesome way to experience the sometimes seedy happenings, parties, and explosive personalities firsthand.



5. Peter Schjeldahl said "artists tend to show up in gangs. You come to the city with your friends, meet other friends, hang out in bars, become a group, and foment a movement-" and that's exactly what Deitch and Grayson capture with this book: An ecstatic moment frozen in vivid print and pictures and then drawn out in time for your (re)viewing pleasure. With over 140 pages of blisteringly cool arts and letters, this volume not only conveys the non stop creative action of this scene but gives you Grayson's truly insider perspective. Countless candid photos documenting both the art-making and their accompanying parties, give you a real sense of a community of desire- talented young people coming together in a specific place and time over some things they love: making art and causing trouble. This book is at once a record and a product of its movement. I'll never be able to read a museum catalog again.

No comments about Drawing Blood: Forty Five Years of Scarfe Uncensored.

1 comments about Richard Marquis Objects.

1. Enjoyed the brief summary of his work to present. Loved reading what the other great artist had to say about Richard Marquis and his contributions to the american glass movement. Wonderful shots of his earlier works.

1 comments about Arms and Armor: Notable Acquisitions 1991-2002 (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series).

1. "eye educator" full of great items in high quality photos and great written details like: armor testing by firing a bullet on it and using it as a "quality test mark". left a smile on my face.

3 comments about Vatican Masterpieces.

1. This book was a gift, we had just been to the Vatican and thought it was a glorious way to share some of the art and beauty that we saw on tour. The book has fine photographs and shares the best of the masterpieces with the viewer.



2. What a great book! The pictures alone make this a worthwhile purchase. For those who know only the famous artists names to those who are art enthusiasts this is a must own. This book is beautifully put together with a tour of 100 masterpieces of the Vatican. It`s filled with interesting anectdotes and interesting facts about the artists and their art. Close ups of the paintings in very clear beautiful pictures. After you read this book you will be able to speak intelligently about artists like Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo, Fra Angelica, and of course Michelangelo. Learn also of many other great but not so famous artists. A great book for occasional light reading, reference, or even as a study companion for art students. Many thanks to Enrico Bruschini. Next stop Sistine Chapel!



3. I plan on taking this book to Italy when I visit Rome. It's small enough and filled with so many details and close-ups of the paintings and other artworks. For the price, it's a remarkable find. I encouraged my students to read this book prior to our visit. I feel they will have a better understanding and appreciation for what we will experience. I highly recommend this book.

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

No comments about Tal R: The Sum.