Book Reports

It’s strange to think that at one time there was no such thing as graphic design. In this book, Jens Müller shows us how twentieth century designers in Germany were the leading edge of logo design, minimalism, and high-volume printing techniques. The book recounts German history alongside the ascendence of the craft with more than 1,000 images of work by the trailblazers in modern graphic design.

The companion book to the photography exhibition at the Napa Valley Museum in Napa Valley, California (on view through February 18), this delightful compendium of more than 200 photographs by Paul Child, husband of the original celebrity chef, Julia Child, shows an extremely personal side of their years abroad in France, from Julia towering over her kitchen stove in their Paris home on “Roo de Loo” to stunning landscapes of postwar Europe.

An extended essay by Donald Kuspit, the eminent art critic (and two-time ArtDesk contributor), weaves through Stern’s skull photo series. Kuspit’s meditation on the skull in pop culture and its use by other contemporary artists in contrast with Stern’s distinct style of natural light and morbid undertones—just one of the many themes explored throughout this survey.

Illustrator, graphic designer, and artist Noma Bar is known for his use of negative space and limited color palettes to achieve extremely clever works for advertising campaigns, publications, and book covers. This retrospective covers a range of topics, from sex to death to daily life. An added treat is a recounting of methods and stories by Bar himself.

An early adopter of editing scenes (to elicit emotion), varying camera angles, and using crowds—all novel ideas in the early 1920s—Sergei Eisenstein had a long and storied career in early Russian cinema. In addition to his cinematic talents, Eisenstein was a visual artist with an overwhelming output of thousands of drawings on paper. The iconic Martin Scorsese provides insightful context on the filmmaker in the book’s foreword.

Best known for the colorful materials, bold prints, and inventive designs that once invaded art galleries, tabletops, and advertising, PoMo is having a moment not long after it was “diagnosed seriously ill” by Interior Design in 1986. There are thousands of images in this rich volume, featuring designers and coveted furniture pieces that are relevant today.

This instant classic—first published in 1999—has been completely revised and revisited through a new lens, to incorporate the latest worlds of twenty-first-century technology. This is a must-read for painters, visual artists, and students of art history. Julian Bell is a third-generation painter, prolific writer, and critic who is based in East Sussex, England.

A sweeping survey of clay and ceramic sculpture in contemporary art. Traditionally, clay as a medium was reserved for craft fairs and preschools. Recently it has gained momentum as a material of high art. This book chronicles works by some of the most important artists working today: Ai Weiwei, Theaster Gates, Liz Larner, Mai-Thu Perret, and Sterling Ruby, among others.