At Home with Books takes the reader into the houses of fortybooklovers to view their very personal libraries and readingspaces. Not only is it a visual delight, but it also includesprofessional advice on editing and categorizing your library;caring for your books; preserving, restoring and storing rarebooks; finding out-of-print books; and choosing furniture, lightingand shelving. This indispensable resource, newly available inpaperback, will be an inspiration for every bibliophile with agrowing home library.

The genius and virtuosity of Rubens painterly skill isapparent. But how exactly did he work? How did he actually createhis paintings? This beautiful book takes the reader through theentire passage from sketch to sale. It looks over the mastersshoulder and discovers how he first made pentimenti, oil sketchesand model studies before applying his paint to what were at timesenormous panels sometimes in many successive transparent layers, atother times directly with colourful brushstrokes. Rubens was acraftsman, and was familiar with the work of his contemporaries andthe latest techniques, on which he himself made variations oradaptations. He employed assistants to carry out parts of a work,negotiated prices, and took a keen interest in the transportationof his work. The words of Rubens himself or his contemporariesfeature regularly in this publication so that the genesis of a workcan be followed at first hand.

A title that will appeal to those interested in book cultureas well as furniture and interior design, Bookshelf is the firstpublication to take bookshelf design as its subject. From theconceptual Read-Unread Bookshelf (which weighs books read againstthose still to be started) to the multi-function Trick (a unit thattransforms from shelf-space into a table and two chairs), Bookshelfpresents over 200 inventive and experimental shelving designs inmore than 400 colour illustrations that are sure to covet andinspire. Individual specification details are provided for eachbookcase, including materials and documentation, and theaccompanying texts by Alex Johnson, author and editor of The Blogon the Bookshelf, provide a fun and informative look at the historyof the bookcase, as well as reflecting on how a new generation ofdesigners have re-imagined a classic. One might have presumed that,with the advent of the e-book, the days of the bookshelf werenumbered. In fact, readers are now taking almost as much interes

“Dozens of examples of successful signage at variousplaces—like public spaces, museums, and businesses—around theglobe. . . . Each featured work is accompanied by text written bythe firm that authored the signage.”—Step Inside Design A signagesystem is much more than just a set of symbols. As well as itspractical application, it helps to create an identity for a spaceand can add decorative flair to any built environment. Andreas Uebele draws on his own design experience to exploresignage as a point where graphic design and architecture cometogether. He first describes the basic rules of signage design:signs must be visible but not distracting, informative but notunwieldy, and concise but not confusing. Striking the right balanceis crucial. Color, typography, pictograms, and icons are allelements that can be varied and exploited to encapsulate as muchinformation as possible and fit the job’s requirements: the signagefor a hospital, an airport, or a conference center may have littlein c

An illustrated study of traditional and figurative art ofAfrica that reflects the continent’s rich artistic and culturalheritage. African Art explores the continent’s marvelousartistic achievements which share its roots with humanitiesorigins. Sculpture has historically been the chief means ofartistic expression. The human figure, whether real or symbolic, isalmost the exclusive subject of African art. This vast world ofAfrican sculpture is the result of an evolutionary process, basedon humanity’s rich history and diversity deriving from migrations,wars, and alliances. During the last century, the African continenthas experienced radical transformations in the fields of social andpolitical organizations, the economy and religions. Inevitably, newartistic forms are being established simultaneously with theglobalization process and the creation of works for the art market,which retain less and less ties with those of the past. AfricanArt is an exhaustive presentation of the traditional figurativearts

Alberto Pinto has infused contemporary flair into these—hismost recent—interiors, which are the most innovative of his lengthycareer. This sumptuously illustrated book features Alberto Pinto’slatest and most spectacular interiors. A diverse range of locationsare explored, from contemporary apartments in New York and Londonto an English castle. Fans of Pinto’s elegant and refined interiorswill find new ideas, while new readers will be drawn to hisinnovative designs. Bringing fresh inspiration to establisheddesign principles, Pinto excels at creating a perfect harmony ofvolume and space. In Alberto Pinto Today, the designer continues todefy ascribed categories and dismiss common preconceptions bytranslating his own style into each interior, according to thesite, his client’s tastes, and his own flair for creativity.

The development of Soviet realist painting over fifty years through a selection of works from Russias leading museums. Socialist Realism was and remains an exceptional phenomenon in twentieth century art. It bore the challenge of promoting realist figuration on a scale without parallel in the rest of the world, employing the talents of thousands of artists over decades and spreading over an immense and varied empire. By glorifying the social role of art, affirming the primary value of content as opposed to form and restoring the central role of traditional practices, socialist Realism was the declared opponent of the modern movement, and in fact represented the only completely alternative artistic system. Created by the great Russian artists (Deineka, Malevic, Adlivankin, Laktionov, Plastov, Brodskij, Korzhev) the works present a multiplicity of questions, themes and formal approaches to art spanning from the last phases of the civil war to the beginnings of the Brezhnev era, stopping at the early 1970

As the title of David Bailey's earlier monograph "Bailey'sDemocracy" suggests, the legendary British photographer likes tobring the same quality of attention to each of his subjects,irrespective of their fame or reputation: "I treat the boy down atthe post office like the president of Russia, and the president ofRussia like the boy down at the post office." "David Bailey's Eye"presents a choice selection of Bailey's photographs--mostly inblack-and-white, some in color--spanning the years between 1962 and2008, the breadth of Bailey's career. His egalitarian stance, oftenindicated by a conspicuous absence of props and a minimal approachto lighting, enables the photographer to tease from his subjectstraits which more formal portraits would lack: the warm benevolenceof I.M. Pei for example, the exuberance of John Galliano or thebrooding look of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Bailey's eye surveys thegamut of humankind, from celebrities to people far from celebrityorbits, examining each of his subjects for the moment

Textiles explores the cultural meaning and exquisiteworkmanship found in the Museum of International Folk Art's vastcollection that spans centuries and includes pieces from seventycountries around the world. Handcrafted work in beautiful, vividcolors typifies the clothing, hats, robes, bedding, and shoes thatrepresent the lives and passions of the people who created and usedthem.

Marc Riboud has continually returned to China since the 1950s tophotograph the development and change of a country that he loves.Here, he offers a personally chosen retrospective of his bestimages of China, ranging from the Great Leap Forward to theeconomic boom, from the severe egalitarian poverty to the "nouveauriches", from the Cultural Revolution to the cult of money. All thephotographs are complemented by captions, anecdotes and personalreflections. Arranged chronologically, this work opens with imagesof China in the 1950s, which can sometimes be seen today. In thephotographs which follow, Riboud depicts the contrasts andreflections between old China, while the book's final section isdevoted to the extraordinary changes that this country hasundergone in the 1980s and 1990s - from glass towers and giantinterchanges to machinery and mini skirts.

Rome as we know it is largely a creation of the Renaissance,restructured and risen anew from a neglected medieval town. Thisbook traces the extraordinary works of painting, sculpture andarchitecture commissioned by Rome's church and civic nobility aspart of their rival bids for power and prestige. With the aid of118 illustrations, most of them in colour, Loren Partridge chartsthe course of Rome's transformation into the most magnificentshowpiece of the Catholic world.

This extensive volume uncovers Dali’s influences, artisticdevelopment, and legacy, offering unprecedented access inside theworld of the man behind the mustache. Through astute analysis ofDali’s work and how the events of his time converged with his driveto become a legend, this volume examines one of the mostsignificant contributors to twentieth-century art. Althoughrecognized primarily as a painter, Dali experimented with a widerange of media. This comprehensive review includes the literature,photography, film, and sculpture that influenced and was created byDali throughout his career, from paintings such as The Persistenceof Memory, to the icons of the surrealist movement such as the MaeWest Lips Sofa and the Lobster Telephone, to short filmcollaborations with Luis Bu?uel. The author offers insight intothis undisputed genius, charting Dali’s progression as an artistand controversial public figure, and demonstrating his influence oncontemporary artists such as Warhol, Koons, and Murakami.

"Tarkovsky often reflected on the way that time flies and wantedto stop it, even with these quick Polaroid shots. The melancholy ofseeing things for the last time is the highly mysterious and poeticessence that these images leave with us. It is as though Andreiwanted to transmit his own enjoyment quickly to others. And theyfeel like a fond farewell."—Tonino Guerra, from theIntroduction This beautifully produced book comprises sixty Polaroidphotographs of Andrei Tarkovsky's friends and family, taken between1979 and 1984 in his native Russia and in Italy, where he spenttime in political exile.The size of the Polaroids is exactly aspresented in the book, including the frame. The book may thereforebe viewed as a facsimile edition. 60 color illustrations.

?Valdes is one of the most relevant and internationally knownartists in the Spanish contemporary art panorama.? GuggenheimMuseum Bilbao? As one of Spain?s most influential postwar artists,Manolo Vald?s recognises the importance of public works. In spring2010 he added a unique and unforgettable form of street theater toBroadway, with sixteen monumental bronze sculptures of abstractedfigures, heads, and horses taking up temporary residence fromColumbus Circle to 166th Street. Through a series of speciallycommissioned photographs, this hardcover artist?s edition capturesone of the most exciting open exhibitions New York has seen.ILLUSTRATIONS: 53

Fashion jewelry is created with the catwalk and couture inmind, characterized by its creativity and originality. It isarguably the most exciting field in fashion today. Arranged by designer, this is the first book to showcasecontemporary catwalk and couture jewellery, profiling 33international fashion jewelers who combine traditional techniquesand ultra-modern methods to create this new style of jewelry. Amongthe stunning images of work shown are collaborations with leadingfashion designers and brands such as Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood,Alexander McQueen, and Comme des Gar ons, as well as collectionsfor directional fashion stores such as Colette and 10 CorsoComo. Showcasing skilled craftsmanship, unusual materials, and an oftenlimited-edition approach, Fashion Jewelry harnesses thespirit of couture for the 21st century.

A showcase for the world's most eye-catching window displays,this book offers inspiration and guidance to visual merchandisersand retailers, helping them to create windows that not only lookgood but also help to increase sales. Seven chapters cover keytopics for the visual merchandiser, each with a gallery ofphotographs demonstrating how and why each window is successful. Amust for anyone involved in bricks and mortar retail.

"In the City" is the third title in the phenomenallysuccessful "The Way We Live" series, providing a visual, in-depthview of lifestyles in cities around the world, from New York toCairo, from London to Saigon, in five major sections. Everyopportunity to make cross-cultural comparisons and connections istaken within the book to provide a truly international view ofliving in the city, making a whole book which is effectively adynamic compilation of inspirational ideas for stylish living inthe city.

The lack of space in big cities and the desire to preserve oldarchitecture of great value help to explain the continuing desireto retrieve spaces of the past as locations for new dwellings. Theadaptation of the conditions of the old building to present-dayliving needs demands delicate technical and documentary work by thearchitect. This volume explores a variety of ideas forreconditioning historical spaces for domestic use, complete withplans and pictures of the original state, the development of theproject and the final result, in which a suggestive, fertiledialogue is struck between past and present.

In its original hardcover edition (1987), this remarkable bookwas the first comprehensive history of beads ever published. Itincludes several thousand examples of beads, beaded jewelry, andbeadwork representing 30,000 years of history and drawn from everymajor culture and region of the world. Now largely unavailable inhardcover and still the most authoritative book on the subject, itis finally available in paperback at a very attractive price. Forthousands of years, beads have pl

Somewhere between jewelry and bodyadornment, the necklaceoffers perhaps the mostexciting decorative possibilities of anyarticle ofpersonal display. What is worn around the neckcannot beignored - unlike the more discreet charms of ear and fingerdecoration - and the necklace as an emblem of wealth, status andproclivity has been shaped and reshaped through the centuries bysuccessive fashions, techniques and materials, from the Egyptianbroad collar and the Celtic gold torc, to the diamond sautoirs ofthe I92OS and the exuberant creations of the liberatedsixties. The major part of this book is devoted to the necklace in the19th and 2oth centuries, as these are the most accessible to thepotential buyer and collector. There are, however, substantialsections on the earlier history of the necklace form: thefigurative pectorals of Egypt, Greek and Roman chains andmedallions, the ornamental inspiration of Renaissance art, theadvent of the pearl necklace in the 17th century. The I9th century then saw th

William S. Paley, founder of CBS, Inc., and a towering figurein the modern entertainment, communication and news-disseminationindustries, was also an enthusiastic collector of twentieth-centuryart and a committed supporter of The Museum of Modern Art. Thisvolume presents his extraordinary personal collection ofeighty-four paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings by some ofthe most important figures of modern art, including Paul Cézanne,André Derain, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso,bequeathed to the Museum in one of the most significant transfersof a private collection to a public institution in recent history.Paley embraced modernism during a period when most collectorssought works by Old Masters, and he built his collection based onpersonal taste with little regard for art-world prestige. Asidefrom certain loans made to enhance exhibitions at MoMA, hiscollection rarely left the walls of his home and office and wasseldom seem by the public until it was left to the William S. PaleyFoun

When Claude Monet exhibited his paintings for the first timein Paris, he acknowledged no teacher, intending to claim completeoriginality for his works. Since then, many writers have sought tocorroborate his originality, latching on to statements such as WhatI do here will at least have the merit of not resembling anybody.Because it is simply the expression of what Ive experienced bymyself (letter to Bazille, 1866). In actual fact, Monet wasgregarious, passionately interested in the paintings of hispredecessors and contemporaries, and he made a common politicalcause with his fellow impressionists, being a principal organizerof their first exhibitions. This book aims to recreate the artisticmilieu of Monet and show his rapport with the unconventionalnon-academic currents of French art including the precedinggeneration of landscapists of the Fontainebleu School and thesucceeding generation, including Paul Gauguin. Paintings by ClaudeMonet, approximately 20 in all, are grouped with the works of otherartist