When I heard Avedon was a high school friend of Baldwin in Harlem I was intrigued by their friendship. Then I heard they had collaborated on this bookWhen I heard Avedon was a high school friend of Baldwin in Harlem I was intrigued by their friendship. Then I heard they had collaborated on this book and I had to find it. Strand books only had a German translation so I held out for the nypl reservation to arrive. I am delighted that I waited because the writing is fluid and powerful. Unlike the Avedon portraits, Baldwin is able to transcend the time of his writing. The portraits firmly entrench us in that time, although the final section, associated with mental health does give a visual sense that this will be an ongoing issue throughout human history; the grain of those images is a sharp turn from the clear portraits of well known persons....more
Having lived in Crown Heights, it was great to read a book that describes the neighborhood with so much life. This was a brilliant way to gain insightHaving lived in Crown Heights, it was great to read a book that describes the neighborhood with so much life. This was a brilliant way to gain insight to a population that lived around me, but about which I really knew nothing. The excellent plot of a child with an artistic gift trying to find expression within a religion with strict rules about artistic representation is engaging and is a fabulously crafted coming of age book....more
This book jumped at me from the shelves of City Lights. I flipped the pages and it opened to an image of the bar next door and the table I just left wThis book jumped at me from the shelves of City Lights. I flipped the pages and it opened to an image of the bar next door and the table I just left with my new friends. You can read this cover to cover and build your own sense of narrative flow, or you can flip around, or open it to just a single page. For those who love cities, welcome to the ultimate homage to city life....more
A wonderful art reference book. Tonnes of images to flip through. Insightful commentary to be found. It is amazing that this book can cover so much grA wonderful art reference book. Tonnes of images to flip through. Insightful commentary to be found. It is amazing that this book can cover so much ground, but each time you visit, you must dig around, because there is no easy signage pointing your in a new way around the gallery....more
It was while looking at this portrait in The Frick Collection that I felt the overwhelming desire to marry. I had to buy this book to mark the occasioIt was while looking at this portrait in The Frick Collection that I felt the overwhelming desire to marry. I had to buy this book to mark the occasion. Were it not for that emotional connection to the painting this book would not be missed from my own collection. It is a highly detailed history of all minutae that could be associated with the painting. The deconstruction is just too much. Separating this image into so many pieces prevents me from seeing the art and seeing only the work. For the passion, I must return to The Frick, for the memory I can glimpse at the book's beatifully bound spine....more
Each pair of facing pages contains one reproduction and one page of text about the work. The quality of the images is not special, but it is a nice waEach pair of facing pages contains one reproduction and one page of text about the work. The quality of the images is not special, but it is a nice way to get a quick impression and understanding of the Pre-Raphaelite works....more
A massive collection of great quality reproduction of the artist's colourfully vibrant dreamscapes.A massive collection of great quality reproduction of the artist's colourfully vibrant dreamscapes....more
History, biography, and amazing photographic reproductions. Van Gogh's life and art is brilliantly explored in this gorgeous TSS hen presentation.History, biography, and amazing photographic reproductions. Van Gogh's life and art is brilliantly explored in this gorgeous TSS hen presentation....more
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