The Artbook Shelf

[MWBOOKREVW]

THE ARTBOOK SHELF

What Painting Is
James Elkins
Routledge
0-415-92113-9 $25.00 1-800-634-7064

What is the meaning of painting, and why do artists love colors and oils? This
goes beyond the usual analytical or 'how to' guide to explore the experience of
creating art. Parallels are drawn between modern art and alchemy, with chapters
exploring how an artist perceives colors, textures, shapes. An inspired, poetic
account of an artist's creation is revealed.

Form & Decoration
Peter Thornton
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10011
0-8109-3340-3 $39.95 1-800-345-1359

Exceptionally written by one of the best-known authorities on the subject, Form
& Decoration: Innovation In The Decorative Arts, 1470-1870 is a critically
important survey of four centuries of Western decorative arts and design
history that traces the origins of the modern movement further back than in any
previous study. Starting with the High Renaissance in Italy, art historian
Peter Thornton explores a vast repertoire of motifs and styles. He highlights
the accomplishments of key innovators from Pollaiuolo and Raphael to Percier,
Pugin, and Owen Jones, and sets their remarkable achievements against the
background in which they worked. He traces the development and subsequent
revivals of themes and motifs and includes a wealth of illustrations, making
Form & Decoration a ground-breaking source of inspiration for designers of
today. No other reference artbook provides such in-depth information on the
decorative styles of this period. With its 440 spectacular photographic images
and illustrations, Form & Decoration serves as an essential component of any
serious art history collection, private, professional, or academic.

New Territories
Nigel Suckling
The Overlook Press
2568 Rt. 212, Woodstock, NY 12498
0-87951-811-1 $24.95 1-212-956-8400

This represents the first collection of Jurgen Ziewe's computer-generated art:
while his name has been associated with posters and fantasy cards, this is the
first book to gather his works under one cover. Text explores Ziewe's visual
language while the full-color examples of his works are presented with appeal
to new audiences.

Masterpiece or Forgery
Janson Video, Inc.
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
$24.95 201-784-8488 www.janson.com

Masterpiece Or Forgery is a fascinating and informative one-hour documentary
video on Elmyr de Hory, a master art forger. Born in 1905, he made an estimated
1000 fake paintings, primarily in the style of the post-impressionists before
he died (or disappeared) in 1976. In addition to faking paintings, Elmyr de
Hory often faked his own identity, and traveled easily throughout Europe's high
society. Even his death was the subject of much speculation. His paintings were
sold throughout North America, Europe and Japan, and their total market value
is estimated to be over 100 million dollars. Many fine and respected galleries
and museums are in possession of what they believe to be a value "Matisse" or
"Modigliani", but which is in fact a "de Hory". Masterpiece Or Forgery includes
interviews with such friends of Elmyr's as author Clifford Irving, actress
Ursula Andress, notorious smuggler Anthony Hugo, as well as William Robinson
(curator of the Fogg Museum of Art in Boston) and David Breuer (Sotheby's
Auction House in London). Highly recommended.

A Fool Moon
Will Bullas
Greenwich Workshop Press
Box 875, Shelton, CT 06484-0875
0-86713-052-0 $16.95

Over 100 new watercolors from Bullas present a fun, pleasing sequel to A Fool
And His Bunny, transforming fine art classics into 'fun' art. From a pig in an
antique 'road hog' to a tied-up duck experiencing 'duck tape', this is filled
with hilarious moments.

The Education of a Graphic Designer
Steven Heller, Editor
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #210, New York NY 10010
1-880559-99-4 $18.95 1-800-491-2808

What are the latest standards for a professional graphic designer? Top names in
the field provide essays and interviews surveying changing professional
standards in the field, and how new thinking has transformed how graphic design
is taught and practiced. Essential for any who would be graphic designers.

Master Drawings in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Bruce Davis
Hudson Hills Press/NBN, dist.
122 East 25th St., 5th fl., NY, NY 10010
0-9646042-80 $50.00 1-212-674-6005

Master Drawings In The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art surveys five centuries
of European and American drawings, including works in watercolors, pastel, and
colored chalks and inks, as well as pencil, charcoal, and ink. The collection
is particularly strong in Italian and French old masters such as Rosso
Fiorentino and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo; works of such 19th century
impressionists as Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro; and 20th century work by
abstract expressionists Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Included among its
treasures are such iconic masterpieces as Van Gogh's "The Postman Joseph
Roulin"; Winslow Homer's "After the Hunt"; and Edward Ruscha's gunpowder
drawing "L.A.". Published to accompany a contemporary exhibition of the same
title at the museum from October 23, 1997 through January 12, 1998, Master
Drawings In The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art is an exceptional survey
collection, exquisitely published, and would wonderfully enhance any art
history collection, public or private.

Body Decoration
Karl Groning
The Vendome Press
Sherrie Murphy Advertising (publicity)
1370 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10019
0-86565-997-4 $65.00 1-212-957-8802

A panoramic and encyclopedia work, Body Decoration: A World Survey Of Body Art
spans 10,000 years of human history sprawled across five continents drawn from
the vast photographic archive of Karl Groning. Presenting 418 illustrations
(most in color), Body Decoration explores the myriad techniques of body
decoration, from painting and tattooing to body adornment with jewelry in the
nose, ears, and lips, and elaborate headdresses of feathers and shells -- all
explained within their cultural context. From paleolithic era to contemporary
times, Body Decoration leaves nothing unexplored. Fascinating, informative,
Body Decoration combines art and scholarship for a rewarding reading experience
for anyone interested in a history of the use of the human body as template for
artistic and cultural expression.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting
literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from
authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on
thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review
a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes two monthly book review magazines, "Internet
Bookwatch" and "Children's Bookwatch". Both are available for free on the
Midwest Book Review website at http://www.execpc.com/~mbr/bookwatch/

If you would like to submit a review for inclusion in our Midwest Book Review
publications, please send an email request to m...@execpc.com for our "Reviewer
Guidelines". We invite your comments, questions and suggestions.

James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575