What makes Albert Watson one of the world’s most revered photographers, hailed by peers, critics, and collectors alike? Is it his unparalleled portfolio of celebrity portraits? Breathtaking landscapes? Sensual nudes, still lifes, illustrious fashion shoots?KAOS presents a kaleidoscopic overview of Watson’s career to date and the dazzling array of subjects, objects, people, and places he has encountered along the way. A skillfully curated and dynamic portfolio, it spans 50 years of photography as we encounter stars, statesmen, supermodels and strangers; bound through neon-blazing cities; find figures poised, or shimmering with nude eroticism; roam the bright lights and the backstreets; soak up extravagant sunsets; and breathe in the elemental wilds of the photographer’s native Scotland.Starting with Watson’s breakthrough portrait of Alfred Hitchcock for the Christmas 1973 edition of Harper’s Bazaar, each photograph reverberates with tightly coiled power, tension, and poetry. Whether it’s a
Albrecht Dürer is the undisputed genius of the Northern Renaissance, a visionary unbound by a single medium. He carved a career spanning painting, printmaking, drawing, and art theory, mastering each with dazzling skill. Famous in his own lifetime for his portraits of princes and patricians, his luminous drawings and watercolors transformed the sketch into an art form in its own right: works such as Young Hare stand as marvels of observation, capturing life with a precision and sensitivity that still amaze today. He was native to the bustling city of Nuremberg, but his travels brought him face-to-face with Renaissance humanism, Venetian color, and classical ideals of beauty. These he absorbed and reimagined with northern precision. As court artist to Maximilian I, and confidant of humanists like Erasmus, he moved easily among the great minds of his age, his musings on measurement and proportion establishing him as one of Europe’s great thinkers. But he never stopped producing work of startling intimacy, from unflinching self-portraits and elaborate prints to meticulously observed studies of nature.Featuring every known painting―many reproduced with brand-new photography―and nearly 500 drawings, this graceful volume captures the sweep of Dürer’s genius. From monumental altarpieces to intimate portraits, from delicate studies of the world around him to bold experiments, it reveals an artist both of his time and ahead of it, an innovator whose vision still feels urgent today. More than a compendium, it is a celebration of a polymath who continues to astonish and inspire.
A key contributor to Nouveau Réalisme in early 1960s Paris, Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) worked alongside artists such as Arman, Yves Klein, and Jean Tinguely, scavenging real objects in place of traditional art materials. She connected art to life by instrumentalizing household items, machine parts, and even toys for her early assemblages. Saint Phalle created her first shooting painting, or Tir, in 1961, and went on to conduct these performances in such varied locations as the Impasse Ronsin in Paris, a garden in Amsterdam, a sandpit outside Stockholm, and the Malibu Hills. Reliefs made of plaster, small objects, paint, wood, and wire were punctured by the bullets of a gun.
This book provides an introduction to Saint Phalle’s work, highlighting some of her most important contributions to 20th century art. From birthing mothers to harbingers of death, she created sculptures that celebrated and exposed the female form in works such as Pink Birth (1964) and Hon En Kathedral (1966). She also u
Petite but Powerful
A sweeping survey of small-scale architectural invention
Small Houses is a tribute to the endless artistic inventiveness of architects and ingenuity of perception of the familiar and known concepts. It is also a conscious pivot towards sustainability and reduction of impact on the environment as well as a daring attitude of change in lifestyle. As humanity faces inevitable pressures such as climate change, an increase in population, and strain on resources, these solutions are helping shape what the world may look like in the future.
Whether in the dense urban areas of Tokyo, the wilderness of Australia, the woods of Canada, or a rooftop in Ecuador, this is the world of Small Houses. The one common point they share, is that they all have an area of no more than 100 square meters. Spanning 25 countries such as Brazil, Hungary, South Korea, Netherlands, USA, Japan, and Australia, described here there are houses designed by 54 architects, including Takeshi Hosaka’s Love2 House, Aranza de Ariño’s Casa Tiny, and the work of Jakub Szczęsny, Charles Pictet, Lada Hršak, BIG, and Fran Silvestre. This is a journey not only through recent evolutions in architectural design and creativity, but it is also a step toward a more sustainable world.
In 1947, Bill Gaines inherited EC Comics, a new venture founded by his legendary father M. C. Gaines, who was responsible for midwifing the birth of the comic book as we know it during his tenure at All-American Comics, bringing the likes of Wonder Woman and Green Lantern to the world. Over the next eight years, Bill Gaines and a “who’s who” of the era including Al Feldstein, Harvey Kurtzman, and Wally Wood would reinvent the very notion of the comic book with titles like Tales from the Crypt, Crime SuspenStories, Weird Science, and MAD.EC delighted in publishing gory, morbid horror and crime comics that had snap, ironic endings—but they also pioneered the first true-to-life war comics, the first “real” science-fiction stories, and a series of tales about such then-taboo subjects
Step inside one of the world’s most enviable closets to celebrate the empowering, sensual, playful, and practical shoe. Hundreds of groundbreaking designs, ephemera, and sketches are featured in this volume, a follow-up to Fashion Designers A–Z, from the most coveted labels such as Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahník, Gucci, Roger Vivier, and more.
The 1970s: that magical era betwixt the swinging ’60s and the decadent ’80s, the epoch of leisure suits and Afros, the age of disco music and platform shoes. As war raged on in Vietnam and the Cold War continued to escalate, Hollywood began to heat up, recovering from its commercial crisis with box-office successes such as Star Wars, Jaws, The Exorcist, and The Godfather. Thanks to directors like Spielberg and Lucas, American cinema gave birth to a new phenomenon: the blockbuster. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, while the Nouvelle Vague died out in France, its influence extended to Germany, where the New German Cinema of Fassbinder, Wenders, and Herzog had its heyday. The sexual revolution made its way to the silver screen (cautiously in the
Positioned precariously between the uptight ’50s and the freewheeling ’70s, the 1960s marked a transitional decade in the film industry. As art, mass market, and pop culture merged and collided in true pop art style, cinema swirled with psychedelic energy. This handbook gathers the best films of the era, exploring the making and the mastery of such cinematic star turns as The Leopard, The Birds, Belle de Jour, A Fistful of Dollars, and Doctor Zhivago.With audiences ever more glued to their TV sets and the loosened rules about what was “permissible” in cinema with the abolition of the Production Code, filmmakers embraced the freedom to explore the possibilities of film as an art form. As was often the case, the Europeans led the way, the French with Nouvelle Vague directors like Godard and Truffaut, and the Italians with such
Above the forest floor, a world of wonder awaits. Tree houses have always captured our imaginations—symbols of escapism, endless youthful summers, and a deep-rooted connection to nature. But today, they’ve evolved beyond childhood hideaways into architectural marvels that blend sustainability and cutting-edge design. So, climb up and explore 62 elaborate tree houses from around the world, each with its own fascinating story. With no single blueprint, they take many forms—some are anchored within towering branches, others mimic the shapes of trees, some shelter in the foliage without touching a trunk. But all have the same goal: to bring us closer to nature. This beautiful collection of self-built structures and masterpieces by world-renowned architects such as Snøhetta and BIG is divided into five chapters. Discover Playful Tree Houses, where kids can push the boundaries of adventure; Hideaway Tree Houses that offer secluded retreats for writers, dreamers, and solitude-seekers; Observation Tree Houses, giv
The Gilded Cosmos
Discover the cosmos as mapped by visionaries throughout history
Travel to a time and universe where science and art intertwined, and the heavens were charted with breathtaking beauty. This unique volume revives Andreas Cellarius’s 17th-century masterpiece, an iconic atlas that captured man’s ambition to grasp infinity. First published in 1660, its 29 sweeping, double-folio maps detail the vast celestial systems of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe, alongside intricate motions of the sun, moon, and planets.
Each plate is a vision of wonder: constellations traced across radiant skies are framed by opulent borders adorned with cherubs, astronomers, and instruments of discovery. Often described as the most beautiful celestial atlas ever published, Harmonia Macrocosmica is one of the masterworks from the Golden Age of Dutch map-making.
More than a visual feast, this reprint includes an illustrated introduction by renowned scholar Robert van Gent that delineates the journey from ancient stargazers to the scientific revolution. He lays out the cultural, historical, and astronomical significance of Cellarius’s magnum opus, as well as the craftsmanship of his publisher, Johannes Janssonius. A detailed appendix further enriches the voyage, listing constellation myths, star names, and technical glossaries that illuminate every turn of the page.
This volume is both a delight for the senses and a portal to the skies as they were once mapped, at a time when the universe itself was viewed as work of art. For dreamers, scholars, and astonomers alike, Cellarius’s heavens still inspire awe, inviting us to lose ourselves in the theater of the cosmos.
Messaging on a Mission
A vivid history of 150 years of graphic design
Through the turbulent events of the last century-and-a-half, graphic design—with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea—has distilled the spirit of each age. It surrounds us every minute of the day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, environmental graphics to sleek interfaces: graphic design is as much about reflecting society’s aspirations and values as it is about transmitting information.
Now published as part of our popular Basic Art series, this vibrant compendium lays out the evolution of graphic design from its inception in the 1890s up until the present day. Using his sweeping knowledge of the field, author Jens Müller has curated hundreds of examples from across the globe, arranged by decade.
Each chapter also includes thumbnails of significant movements and influential publications, plus concise biographies of design masterminds like Massimo Vignelli (New York subway wayfinding), Otl Aicher (Lufthansa identity), Paula Scher (Citibank identity), Milton Glaser (I Love New York), Louise Fili (packaging), and Stefan Sagmeister (handwritten posters).
This succinct but authoritative collection reflects on the development of a creative field that is constantly changing and challenging itself. The design classics Müller has curated act as coordinates, helping to trace the incontrovertible influence of graphic design on our daily lives. It’s both a handy primer and an informed exploration of how graphic design shapes our choices, from the products we buy and the media we consume, to how we behave and think of ourselves.
Faux and Fabulous
A dazzling collection that celebrates the beauty and artistry of imitation gems
Discover the sparkling story of costume jewelry through the extraordinary collection of Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. In the early 20th century, New York became the epicenter of paste jewelry design, as artisans fleeing war-torn Europe rebuilt their craft in America. Their expertise propelled the city to fashion’s forefront, ushering in an era of bold, beautiful, and accessible bijouterie.
This gorgeous book, with texts by Carol Woolton and Maria Luisa Frisa—who pens a personal reflection on Patrizia and her collection—showcases nearly 600 of the finest pieces from the 1930s to the new millenium.
With stunning photography by Luciano Romano, it follows jewelry’s democratization, as women embraced statement accessorizing and a newfound fashion freedom. Beyond their beauty, these baubles embodied rebellion and transformation: they adorned Hollywood’s greatest icons, and became symbols of identity and creativity.
Explore the visionary designers and cultural movements of each era, reflecting the artistic, economic, and social shifts that shaped them. Learn how innovative materials like Lucite and Bakelite, and the introduction of vibrant tropical colors, inspired new waves of designs. Discover the remarkable artistry of designers who incorporated intricate details and eye-catching motifs in their often avant-garde creations, blurring the line between fine and fashion jewelry and transforming accessories into wearable art. This is an essential source of inspiration for collectors, designers, and jewelry lovers alike.
City lights and cherry trees
The woodblock prints of Tokyo that captured Europe's imagination
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning “pictures of the floating world,” ukiyo-e was a particular genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries and came to characterize the Western world’s visual idea of Japan. In many ways images of hedonism, ukiyo-e scenes often represented the bright lights and attractions of Edo (modern-day Tokyo): beautiful women, actors and wrestlers, city life, and spectacular landscapes.
Though he captured a variety of subjects, Hiroshige was most famous for landscapes, with a final masterpiece series known as “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” (1856–1858), which depicted various scenes of the city through the seasons, from bustling shopping streets to splendid cherry orchards.
This reprint is made from one of the finest complete original sets of woodblock prints belonging to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. It pairs each of the 120 illustrations with a description, allowing readers to immerse themselves in these beautiful, vibrant vistas that became paradigms of Japonisme and inspired Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Art Nouveau artists alike, from Vincent van Gogh to James McNeill Whistler.
Sentence Structures
The architectural treatises which shaped our world
If you’ve ever wondered what goes through architects’ minds when they design buildings, you’ll be happy to know that there’s no shortage of brilliant reading material to satisfy your curiosity. Wading through the archives at your local library may prove fruitful to your endeavor, but it won’t give you the instant gratification that Architectural Theory will.
This book brings together all of the most important and influential essays about architecture written since the Renaissance, copiously illustrated and neatly organized chronologically by country. From Alberti and Palladio to Le Corbusier and Koolhaas, the best treatises by architecture’s greatest masters are gathered here, each accompanied by an essay discussing its historical context and significance. This is the all-in-one, must-have book for anyone interested in what architects have to say about their craft.
The comprehensive overview that will help transform even the most uninformed novices into well-informed connoisseurs!
The End Was Nigh
Awesome apocalyptic visions of the 16th century
The Book of Miracles first surfaced several ago and is one of the most spectacular discoveries in the field of Renaissance art. The near-complete illustrated manuscript, created in Augsburg around 1550, is composed of 169 pages of large-format illustrations in gouache and watercolor, depicting wondrous and often eerie phenomena.
The mesmerizing images deal with both biblical and folkloric tales, depicting stories from the Old Testament and Book of Revelation as well as events that took place in the immediate present of the manuscript’s author. From shooting stars to swarms of locusts, terrifying monsters to fatal floods, page after page hypnotizes with visions alternately dreadful, spectacular, and even apocalyptic.
This volume presents the revelatory Book of Miracles in a new, compact format, making this extraordinary document accessible to everyone. It comes with a translation of the manuscript texts and an essay that gives an introduction to the cultural and historical context of this unique Renaissance work.
Experience vintage children's book illustrations by early Disney artists
In Los Angeles during the 1940s and 1950s, Disney artists popularized illustration for children both on the big screen and in the pages of the Golden Books, a series of affordably priced children's books. These stories distilled the visual language of Disney films and brought historic and contemporary tales to life through compelling and inventive works of art. The selection of material in this book by 7 different artists reflects the variety of stylistic approaches that defined animation and illustration at the Disney studio.
The book begins with an introduction to the artistic milieu that characterized the Disney studio, and each of the 10 stories is illustrated with complete original art and text. Biographies of the artists featured are included in the appendix. This hardcover anthology of vintage illustration will captivate adults and children alike.
The following Disney stories are featured in the book:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Peter and the Wolf, Once Upon a Wintertime, The Adventures of Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan
The art of astrology, from ancient science to modern-day practice
From the beginning of human history, individuals across cultures and belief systems have looked to the sky for meaning. The movement of celestial bodies and their relation to our human lives has been the central tenant of astrology for thousands of years. The practice has both inspired reverence and worship, and deepened our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
While modern-day horoscopes may be the most familiar form of astrological knowledge, their lineage reaches back to ancient Mesopotamia. As author Andrea Richards recounts in Astrology, the second volume in TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica series, astronomy and astrology were once sister sciences: the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza was built to align with constellations, Persian scholars oversaw some of the first observatories, and even Galileo cast horoscopes for the Medicis. But with the Enlightenment and the birth of exact science, the practice moved to places where mystery was still permitted, inspiring literature, art, and psychology, and influenced artists and thinkers such as Goethe, Byron, and Blake. Later movements like the Theosophists and the New Agers, would thrust the practice into the mainstream.
Edited by Jessica Hundley, this vibrant visual history of Western astrology explores the symbolic meaning behind hundreds of images, from Egyptian temples and illuminated manuscripts to contemporary art from across the globe. Works by artists from Alphonese Mucha and Hilma af Klint to Arpita Singh and Manzel Bowman are sequenced to mirror the spin of the planets and the wheel of the zodiac. Astrology celebrates the stars and their mysterious influence on our everyday lives.
A visual history of Tarot
To explore the Tarot is to explore ourselves, to be reminded of the universality of our longing for meaning, for purpose and for a connection to the divine. This 600-year-old tradition reflects not only a history of seekers, but our journey of artistic expression and the ways we communicate our collective human story.
For many in the West, Tarot exists in the shadow place of our cultural consciousness, a metaphysical tradition assigned to the dusty glass cabinets of the arcane. Its history, long and obscure, has been passed down through secret writing, oral tradition, and the scholarly tomes of philosophers and sages. Hundreds of years and hundreds of creative hands—mystics and artists often working in collaboration—have transformed what was essentially a parlor game into a source of divination and system of self-exploration, as each new generation has sought to evolve the form and reinterpret the medium.
Author Jessica Hundley traces this fascinating history in this pocket-sized edition of Tarot from TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica series. The book explores the symbolic meaning behind hundreds of cards and works of original art, spanning from Medieval to modern, and artfully arranged according to the sequencing of the 78 cards of the Major and Minor Arcana. It explores the powerful influence of Tarot as muse to artists like Salvador Dalí and Niki de Saint Phalle and includes the decks of dozens of contemporary artists from around the world, all of whom have embraced the medium for its capacity to push cultural identity forward.
May the Force Be with You
George Lucas’s vision of a galaxy far, far away
When Star Wars was released in 1977, everybody who saw and reviewed it considered the movie an exciting, innovative piece of pop culture, a fast-moving, special-effects laden fairy tale in space. The film, and the episodes that followed, created a worldwide phenomenon, a massive success for creator George Lucas’s production company Lucasfilm, his special effects company Industrial Light & Magic, and for the studio Twentieth Century Fox.
Over six movies and 28 years writer, director and producer George Lucas created the modern monomyth of our time, one that resonates with the child in us all.
The book begins with Anakin Skywalker as we watch him being trained as a Jedi under Obi-Wan Kenobi, find love with the Queen of Naboo, Padmé Amidala, and ultimately turn to the dark side of his nature and become more machine than man. Years later we follow moisture farmer Luke Skywalker on his journey through a galaxy far, far away, meeting extraordinary characters like the mysterious hermit Obi-Wan Kenobi, space pirates Han Solo and Chewbacca, loyal droids C-3PO and R2-D2, bold Princess Leia and the horrific Darth Vader, servant of the dark, malevolent Emperor.
To achieve his epic vision George Lucas created the space for ground-breaking visual effects and digital technologies that have forever changed the way we make and see visual entertainment.
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