Now available in a new edition, this sumptuous volume explores key aspects of Art Nouveau--decorative arts, architecture, fashion, dance, advertising, and more--with an in-depth approach and stunning illustrations. The Art Nouveau movement became an international phenomenon at the beginning of the twentieth century that ushered in the era of modernity in almost every aspect of cultural life. For decades critics have argued that Art Nouveau was not an artistic period in its own right, but an amalgam of artists and styles that served as a bridge between neoclassicism and modernism. In this...

This visceral life: Seeing the world through Expressionist eyes Sharp angles, strange forms, lurid colors, and distorted perspectives are classic hallmarks ofExpressionism, the twentieth century movement thatprioritized emotion over objective reality. Though particularly present in Germany and Austria, the movement s approach flourished internationally and is today hailed asone of the most influential shifts in art history.With leading groupsDie Brucke(The Bridge) andDer Blaue Reiter(The Blue Rider), and key players such as Wassily Kandinsky, Egon Schiele, andEmil Nolde, the Expressionists...

Sublime stillness: Capturing nature's moody splendor The solitude of man and the bleak beauty of nature are prominent themes in the work of Caspar David Friedrich(1774-1840), the great romantic painter whose importance and influence have often been underestimated. Now widely considered to be the most important German artist of his generation, Friedrich died in obscurity and wasn't fully appreciated until the early 20th century.An important precursor to the Expressionists, Friedrich once wrote that an artist must "close your bodily eye so that you may see your picture first with the spiritual...

Now available in a new format, this lavishly illustrated volume explores Art Deco art and design from its origin to its present day influences. The Art Deco style is so recognizable and widespread that its original impact on the culture in which it emerged has been all but lost in the clutter of imitation. This book draws our attention back to the birth of Art Deco--a period between two devastating world wars when industrialization was flourishing, interest in archaeology was peaking, and movements such as Cubism, Constructivism, Futurism, and Modernism were turning the art world on its head....

The prints of darkness
The art, theory, and woodcut print revolution of Albrecht Durer

A polymath of the German Renaissance, Albrecht Durer (1471 1528) was a prolific artist, theorist, and writer whose works explored everything from religion to art theory to philosophy. His vast body of work includes altarpieces, portraits, self-portraits, watercolors, and books, but is most celebrated for its astonishing collection of woodcut prints, which transformed printmaking from an artisan practice into a whole new art form.

The prints of darkness
The art, theory, and woodcut print revolution of Albrecht Durer

A polymath of the German Ren...

The face of Spain: The undeniable pinnacle of the golden age of Spanish paintingAcclaimed for its blending of realism with atmosphere, and for its deeply sensitive appreciation of character, the work of Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez (1599 1660) represents the undeniable pinnacle of the golden age of Spanish painting.Born in Seville but of Portuguese origin, Velazquez became Court Painter to Philip IV in 1623. A steady worker, using primarily sombre low-toned coloring, he met Rubens in 1628, and soon after made a first trip to Italy. The pictures painted there reveal a growing interest...

Bridging the gap
Expressionist pioneer Ernst Ludwig Kirchner heralded a new perspective in 20th-century painting

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 1938) is regarded as one of the key figures in 20th-century European art. A Modernist to his bones, he sent seismic waves through the art world with his hard-edged, intensely colored paintings and disseminated his ideas through Die Brucke art movement and the MUIM-Institut school of modernist painting, both of which he cofounded.

Kirchner s work reconciled...

Now available in a new edition, this lavishly illustrated volume draws on the latest research to present an exciting new interpretation of Albrecht Du rer, both as a man and as an artist. Albrecht Du rer s prints and drawings have inspired hundreds of artists, both during his life and after his death. Yet his talent as a painter and colorist, and his enthusiasm for the scientific world have not been widely appreciated. Du rer s influence was both international and intergenerational indeed Picasso claimed to have been inspired by the 16th-century artist. Reproduced in stunning detail and...