Old-fashioned fans are today mostly appreciated for the craftsmanship and delicacy with which they were produced. But in former times they had their own special function in the hands of women in certain ranks of society. Not just useful articles, they were powerful transmitters of messages in their own unique code. With deft movements of their fans corresponding to this code, women were able to signal their thoughts and their intentions to their admirers without the necessity of a single word s being spoken. Philippe Mesmer endeavors anew to decipher the language of the fan, a mode of communication unhappily no longer in use. Over 100 beautiful full-color illustrations.

Fan Tales

Philippe Mesmer

Parkstone Press

Art Nouveau (Art of Century)

The Art Nouveau movement is distinguished as the decorative and architectural style that began, in response to the Industrial Revolution. The primary objective of this movement was the creation of a new aesthetic of nature through a return to the study of natural subjects. Designs from this movement are often characterized by plant or floral inspired patterns, and highly-stylized, detailed depictions countering the broad swooping curvatures of a piece in the Art Nouveau style.
In order to achieve this, such artists as Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, Antoni Gaudí, Jan Toorop, and William Morris favoured innovation in technique and novelty of forms. Art Nouveau attempts to integrate art into all facets of life including materials from furniture, to decorative items in a home, to architecture; building on the movement’s philosophy of incorporating art into everyday life. After its triumph at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1900, the trend continued and has inspired many artists since, as well as the Art Déco movement, the successor of Art Nouveau which appeared after World War I. It is fair to say Art Nouveau was at the heart of a “renaissance” in decorative arts.

Art Nouveau (Art of Century Collection)

Jean Lahor

Arts & Photography

Behind Frida Kahlo’s portraits, lies the story of her life – a body of work drawn from cries of anger and fury, blended into a potent and artistically exceptional combination. At six years of age, she suffered a bout of polio, and she was just 18 when a terrible bus accident changed her life forever, leaving her handicapped and burdened with constant physical pain. But her explosive character, raw determination, and hard work helped to shape her artistic talent. Kahlo managed to forge a place for herself in the macho society of Mexico, despite the double handicap of her crushed body and her sex. Frida Kahlo’s work plays an important part in the artistic heritage of Mexico, her native country, with both its novelty and its multi-cultural values. The story and the paintings that Frida created provide a rare and courageous account of a woman on a voyage of constant self-discovery. This book offers a valuable overview of her work in a convenient format, making it the perfect gift.

Kahlo (Mega Square)

SOUTER, GERRY

Themes

Erotische Kunst (temporis) (german Edition)

Hans-juergen Doepp

Long thought of as the neglected stepchild of painting, the art of drawing has recently begun to enjoy a place in the sun. With major museums around the world, from the Met to the Uffizi, mounting exhibitions focused on the art of draughtsmanship, drawing is receiving more critical and academic attention than ever before. This captivating text gives readers a sweeping analysis of the history of drawing, from Renaissance greats like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to Modernist masters like M.C. Escher, Pablo Picasso, and everyone in between.

1000 Drawings of Genius (Book)

Charles, Victoria

Carl, Klaus H.

Drawing

From the Antiquity to the twentieth century, this sculpture collection offers a truly original vision of Western art. Here are the most sensual and harmonious masterworks to the most provocative and minimalist sculptures. Sculpture shapes the world and our concept of beauty, leaving everlasting silhouettes and always creating new intriguing ones. These masterworks are the mirror of an era, of an artist and his public and through this sculpture gallery, one visits not only the history of art, but History as well. Between the acclaimed ideals of beauty and the most controversial works, 1000 Sculptures of Genius will give you a true panoramic view of Western sculpture. Along with numerous references, comments on masterworks and biographies, this work enables the reader to rediscover the Western world heritage and is the perfect guide for art students and statuary lovers.

1000 Sculptures of Genius (The Book Collection)

PATRICK BADE

Joseph Manca PhD.

Sara Costello

History & Criticism

Ukiyo-e, the genre of Japanese woodblock prints produced between the 17th and 20th centuries, is explored in this collection, which chronicles how the technique was developed and rose to great popularity. Illustrations.

Impressions of Ukiyo-E (Magnus Series)

Dora Amsden

Woldemar Von Seidlitz

Supporting her analysis on the significance of shoes throughout history with outstanding iconography, the author gives these commonplace objects a universal quality that sheds light on the whole of civilization and elevates them to the rank of a work of art. Illustrations.

Art of the Shoe

Bossan, Marie-Josèphe

Discover the Renaissance through the lens of one of the greatest Italian artists of all time. Mega Square  Raphael offers a wonderful introduction to the breadth of this artist’s work, providing an array of his paintings, drawings and frescos for the reader’s enjoyment.The portable size of this book makes it a perfect gift for art enthusiasts everywhere.

Raphael (Mega Square)

Individual Artists

Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Emil Nolde, E.-L. Kirchner,

Expressionism (Art of Century)

Bassie, Ashley

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