Few artists have created as much controversy or survived itwith greater fame than Edouard Manet. In his day, the avant-gardewas not only a challenge to the traditions of art, but it was alsoa gunshot fired at society as a whole. With his painting Olympia(1869), Manet was to become, to quote Degas, as famous asGaribaldi. Yet how the urbane and diffident son of a bourgeoisfamily became the father of both Realism and Impressionism is acomplex and fascinating story that has too often been reduced totextbook clichés. As Manet has become recognized as a touchstonefor historical change but also for interpretations of how thatchange came about, his individual story has become all the morerelevant to the study of art history. Moreover, far from being anartists to shrink behind his work, one of Manets mostcharacteristic practices was to leave an indelible trace of his ownpersonal identity within his paintings, as illustrated throughoutthe volume by eminent scholar James H. Rubin. This lavishlyillustrated volume

This is the latest book from the pattern cutting andconstruction experts at Bunka Fashion College in Japan, school ofYohji Yamamoto. It includes 17 fashionable and achievable designs,with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and diagrams thatguide the reader through the draping process. With two foldedpatterns at the back, this book provides inspiring ideas and highlypractical techniques for anyone wanting to learn about draping.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition ofmasterworks from The Museum of Modern Art at the High Museum,Atlanta, this catalogue features artwork produced during six keyyears between 1913 and 2013. Concentrating on groundbreakingmoments when major modern movements and radical new strategiesemerged, the book provides an overview of the innovations andachievements of the last century, including the new visuallanguages of Cubism and Futurism (1913), the convergence ofSurrealism and New Vision photography between the wars (1929), thelarge-scale abstract painting of midcentury (1950), the merging ofart and life in the early 1960s (1961) and the embrace of identitypolitics and appropriation by artists in the late 1980s (1988). Aseries of new commissions by three contemporary artists representsthe art of the present moment. Each of the six richly illustratedsections features a close reading of one major work from theperiod, complemented by an exploration of that year's aestheticzeitgeist.

In 1931, Diego Rivera was the subject of The Museum of ModernArt s second monographic exhibition, which set new attendancerecords in its five-week run. The Museum brought Rivera to New Yorksix weeks before the show s opening and gave him on-site studiospace. There he produced five "portable murals" --large blocks offrescoed plaster, slaked lime and wood that feature bold imagesdrawn from Mexican subject matter and address themes of revolutionand class inequity. After the opening, to great publicity, Riveraadded three more murals, now taking on New York subjects throughmonumental images of the urban working class and the city duringthe Great Depression. Published in conjunction with an exhibitionthat brings together key works made for Rivera s 1931 show, thiscatalogue casts the artist as a highly cosmopolitan figure whotraveled between Russia, Mexico and the United States and examinesthe intersection of artmaking and radical politics in the 1930s.Illustrated with reproductions of each panel as well as r

This book rewrites the history of jewellery in the age ofVictoria. The age of Victoria is taken in its widest sense toencompass jewellery made throughout Europe and America, displayedat the great international exhibitions and distributed throughforeign trade, illustrated publications and a burgeoning touristindustry. Throughout, links with other disciplines will provideboth the specialist and the non-specialist with the information tounderstand how jewellery permeated all walks and conditions of lifein the 19th century. The focus of the book is on the attitudes ofowners to their jewellery and the symbolic weight that it wasexpected to carry. Rather than concentrating on the major figuresat the top end of the jewellery trade, or indeed offering achronological survey of the development of jewellery styles andfashions, it is oriented towards the social aspects of owning,wearing and displaying jewellery. The authors show, for example,how novelists use jewellery to add a moral or metaphoricaldimension to a

Click on the Google Preview image above to read some pages ofthis book! A home filled with books can be a place of inspiration in moreways than one. Bookcases, bookshelves, entire rooms: far from beingsimple storage spaces, home libraries reveal the personalities andlifestyles of their owners. They are always very personal andunpredictable, whether they have been specially created in aseparate room or fitted into nooks and crannies all over thehouse. Artists, interior decorators, graphic designers, fashiondesigners, writers, collectors, journalists, and business people:all have different ways of engaging with books as a designchallenge. Here we see how they have built the libraries of theirdreams, and we explore the many ways of striking a balance betweenstyle and practicality, modern trends and classic styling, strictorganization and carefree clutter. The illustrations show how the right combination of shelving,lighting, and accessories can be brought together with a dash ofimaginati

Scott Schuman just wanted to take photographs of people that he met on the streets of New York who he felt looked great. His now-famous and much-loved blog, thesartorialist.com, is his showcase for the wonderful and varied sartorial tastes of real people across the globe. This book is a beautiful anthology of Scott s favorite images, accompanied by his insightful commentary. It includes photographs of well-known fashion figures alongside people encountered on the street whose personal style and taste demand a closer look. From the streets of New York to the parks of Florence, from Stockholm to Paris, from London to Moscow and Milan, these are the men and women who have inspired Scott and the many diverse and fashionable readers of his blog. After fifteen years in the fashion business, Scott Schuman felt a growing disconnect between what he saw on the runways and in magazines, and what real people were wearing. The Sartorialist was his attempt to redress the balance. Since its beginning, the blog has bec

There is no doubt about Gustav Klimt's greatness as a draftsman.Remarkable above all is the intensely sensual mood that heestablishes in his limpid, fluid drawings and watercolors: thepencil or crayon line with which his subjects are describedexplores and caresses as though the act of drawing was itself aseduction. Klimt's drawings are often highly erotic and explicit,many to such an extent that they have rarely been reproduced. Thishas made for an unbalanced representation of his work as adraftsman, and a comprehensive survey of his graphic output is longoverdue. Rainer Metzger, a notedart historian, has brought together hundreds of Klimt's drawingsand watercolors in a way that enriches our knowledge of the artistand enhances the visual impact of his oeuvre. Klimt's drawings andstudies, and his elegantly direct and dangerously intoxicatingpreparatory sketches, reveal the underlying impetus for andstructure of his elaborate canvases. 307 color illustrations.

Japanese woodblock prints of the Edo period (16151868) were the products of a highly commercialised and competitive publishing industry. Their content was inspired by the vibrant popular culture that flourished in Edo (Tokyo). At any given time scores of publishers competed for the services of the leading artists of the day. Publishers and artists displayed tremendous ingenuity in finding ways to sustain demand for prints and to to circumvent the restrictions placed upon them by government censorship. Japanese woodblock prints have long been appreciated in the West for their graphic qualities but their content has not always been fully understood. In recent years, publications by scholars in Japan, Europe and the United States have made possible a more subtle appreciation of the imagery encountered in them. This book draws upon this recent scholarship to explain how those who first purchased these prints would have read them. Through stunning new photography of both well-known and rarely published work

"The Book of Kells" is a masterpiece of medieval art abrilliantly decorated version of the four Gospels with full-pagedepictions of Christ, the Virgin and the Evangelists as well as awealth of smaller decorative painting. This new book, by the Keeperof Manu*s at Trinity College Library, Dublin, represents on agenerous scale the glories of the "Book of Kells" for todaysreaders, revealing the astounding detail and richness of one of thegreatest treasures of medieval art. Its illustrations feature 59full-size reproductions of complete pages of the manu*, and,in addition, enlarged details that allow one to relish theintricacy of elements barely visible to the naked eye. We explore"The Book of Kells" through its historical background; a display ofthe elements of the book, actual size; the spectacular openings ofthe texts that precede the Gospels; a study of earlier andcomparable manu*s; detailed examination of symbols and themes,with special enlarged details; a look at the scribes and artistswho worked on t

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

"The jewelry by contemporary artists Diane Venetpossessestoday forms a unique reference collection.Reading like a who's whoof modern artists, thecatalog of her pieces here retells thehistory of20th-century art." Adrien Goetz This book presents over 200 pieces of jewelry designed bythe greatest artists of the 20th and 21 st century includingAlexander Calder, Max Ernst,Salvador Dall, Niki de Saint-Phalle,Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons. The essays by .Adrien Goetz, French writer and arthistorian, and Barbara Rose, famous art historian and critic,provide a literary and historical perspective.

"New London Style" takes a fresh look into the private dwellingsof the most exciting young creative talents in the city, from themusic, fashion, design and art worlds. This exciting aesthetictakes many forms, but above all it expresses a creative sensibilityagainst the backdrop of the ever-changing environment of one of theworlds most exciting cities. The 28 houses in the book are looselyarranged by location, in the grooviest, on-the-edge neighbourhoodsfrom Whitechapel to Notting Hill, Camberwell to Clerkenwell andreflect the cosmopolitan melting pot that influences the city'sdesign trends. Whether in a mews house, derelict pub, or even achurch, this new wave of lively Londoners is injecting funkinessand bright ideas into a range of highly individualistic andinspirational interiors.

Situated in the heart of Paris, the Musee d'Orsay boasts thegreatest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art inthe world, a collection unparalleled in its diversity and quality.Since its spectacular opening in 1986 in a renovated train station,the museum has welcomed more than 50 million visitors to view worksby Bouguereau, Courbet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet,Redon, Whistler, Gauguin and other artists of the mid-19th centuryto the early 20th century. In this deluxe, large-format volume, theMusee d'Orsay's director, Serge Lemoine, and his team of curatorsand specialists examine the museum's holdings and the historysurrounding them, ranging from the primacy of academic paintingthrough the shock of Impressionism to the rise of modern art.Included are many seminal works of the period, including Whistler'sMother, Manet's The Balcony, Cezanne's Apples and Oranges, Monet'sBlue Water Lilies and Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles. With 830full-colour illustrations of masterpieces by some of

The Spanish artist Antonio Lopez Garcia is revered worldwidenot only for the extreme realism he brings to his paintings anddrawings, but because he conveys through this extreme realism awonderful sensitivity to light, color and space, enabling each tobreathe with a tranquility that allows for the encroachments ofeveryday life. Interior scenes of dining tables, bathroom sinks,toilets, dressers are depicted in sober light that recall Chardinor the intimisme of Vuillard--though Lopez Garcia surpasses eventhese masters in his ability to make unforgivingly prosaic subjectmatter, such as a brick wall or a refrigerator, sparkle and throbwith mood. The artist's statement that "you work until the wholesurface has an expressive intensity equivalent to what you havebefore you, converted into a pictorial reality" conveys somethingof the labor he brings to his works: Lopez Garcia is not a prolificartist, and as a result shows rarely (his 2008 exhibition at theMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston, consolidated his already st

Tote bags are becoming more and more popular because they are reusable and eco-friendly. This affordable and stylish alternative to the ubiquitous plastic bag is now also a fashion statement. The use of tote bags has spread from the eco-savvy shopper to the style-conscious consumer. With this shift, totes have moved from being a purely utilitarian item to a medium for self-expression. The printed design on the tote bag sends a message about the owner's personality. The graphics, imagery and messages displayed on tote bags are becoming increasingly sophisticated, subtle and imaginative. This book showcases some of the most striking, inventive and subversive of current examples of the tote. The featured totes come from over 120 illustrators, graphic designers and design studios around the world, from the Netherlands to Nigeria. Designs include floral prints, typography, illustrations and characters.

Ever been overwhelmed by a closet that feels as if it's filledwith all the wrong pieces? "Instant Style" is the ultimate guide tostreamlining, shopping for, and maintaining your ideal wardrobe allyear round. The book starts with the basics, outlining essentialclothing items for each season-winter coats, spring skirts, summersandals, fall sweaters-then shows how to complement them withpieces that accentuate personal style. Learn which tops go withwhat pants, what boots look best with different skin shapes, howthe right bag can change the entire look of an outfit, and how toflatter your colouring and figure. Find out when to hit the bestsales, what's worth splurging on, and how to recognize quality inclothes. Finally, benefit from the book's listing of recommendedstores around the country: "Instant Style" is filled with hundredsof colourful photographs of clothes and celebrities that willinspire and delight. It is the first book that gives readerseverything they need to make getting dressed, no matter wh

This substantial book features one hundred of the most spectacular interiors across the world, spanning the entire 20th century to the present day. It includes interiors assembled by artists and fashion designers, architects, interior and set-designers, bringing together diverse design talents from Piero Fornasetti and Coco Chanel to Alvar Aalto, Marc Newson and Matthew Williamson. Twenty short profiles are presented in the introduction, with a single iconic photograph and a concise, informative eighty are profiled at length, in chronological order, with superb colour photography and texts recounting the stories of these remarkable designs. Representing every style from minimalism, Art Nouveau and Neo-traditional to Gesamtkunstwerk creations that defy definition, these iconic interiors are elegant compositions that endure as lasting creations.

Celebrity model Inès de la Fressange shares the well-keptsecrets of how Parisian women maintain effortless glamour and atimeless allure. Inès de la Fressange—France’s icon of chic—sharesher personal tips for living with style and charm, gleaned fromdecades in the fashion industry. She offers specific pointers onhow to dress like a Parisian, including how to mix affordablebasics with high-fashion touches, and how to accessorize. Herstep-by-step do’s and don’ts are accompanied by fashionphotography, and the book is personalized with her charmingdrawings. Inès also shares how to bring Parisian chic into yourhome, and how to insert your signature style into any space—eventhe office. The ultrachic volume is wrapped with athree-quarter-height removable jacket and features offset aquarellepaper and a ribbon page marker. Complete with her favoriteaddresses for finding the ultimate fashion and decorating items,this is a must-have for any woman who wants to add a touch of Paristo her own style.

This vibrantly illustrated book is an original look at themyriad roles played by textiles in all aspects of human life, fromancient weavings to light-sensitive and other futuristic fabrics ofour own era. Beverly Gordon discusses how textiles are an integralpart of the human life journey from cradle to grave in a multitudeof practical, symbolic and spiritual ways. The many uses oftextiles in our everyday lives and their sources are illustrated,along with a discussion about how, as a valuable commodity, in somecommunities textiles function as money. Finally, the authoroutlines how textiles are a means of communication functional,political and artistic and a metaphor for transcendence. This bookwill captivate and inspire anyone who has a passion for textilesand textile arts, whether educational, creative orprofessional.

Comics Sketchbooks presents the private notebooks of 76 of the world’s most inventive, innovative and successful artists, alongside new talents and emerging illustrators, in a breathtaking range of creative play. From cartoons to the graphic novel, from humour to superheroes, comics are the world’s most popular form of illustration. However, we rarely see the creative thinking – the doodling, the experimentation – that leads to fully formed visual ideas and stories. Although there have been several comic-book compilations over the years, none has the visual excitement, creative insight and mind-blowing creativity – and fun – of Comics Sketchbooks. POW!!!!

New in the bestselling "Way We Live" series is this visuallythrilling exploration of the way people around the world live withthe things they love. Divided into seven main sections, the bookshowcases Gilles de Chabaneixs eagle-eye for a good idea orintriguing detail, offering an international tour of how peopleframe, hang and place objects, as well showing the best ways ofcombining and balancing them, and displaying them with wit orirony. Every opportunity to make cross cultural comparisons andconnections is taken within this book to provide a trulyinternational vision of the ways in which our lives are reflectedby the things we love.

This definitive monograph, written by Miró’sclose friend and contemporary, offers personal insight into thelife and work of the artist. Rigorously academic, Dupin’s analysisgoes much further than a traditional study of the artist’s work: herecounts Miró’s artistic exploration, from sculpture, throughgraphic work, to costume design. Dupin’s privileged relationshipwith the Miró family allowed him exclusive access to invaluableinformation about the artist as well as many documents, such asvarious projects, sketch pads, and correspondence that were onlydiscovered after Miró’s death. Extensive notes are included at theback of the volume as well as a condensed chronology and a list ofMiró’s exhibitions and catalogs.