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Title: Klimt by Maria Costantino, Gustav Klimt ISBN: 1-57715-053-8 Publisher: Knickerbocker Pr Pub. Date: October, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 (10 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Good, but....
Comment: Klimt's art, whether one is a fan or not, is seen everywhere. Rarely can one spend much time in a college dormitory before running into "The Kiss" or another poster of Klimt. This book itself is a nice collection of his various artworks over his career. However, the text leaves much to be desired. To the author's credit, he avoids taking at face value many of the risque rumors that surround Klimt's life. Instead, the author attempts to psychoanalyze him, and the "crisis of the male liberal ego." This seems quite a trick, as the author even admits that Klimt was rather reticient about talking about himself or leaving a paper trail of his life. As such, and especially by removing the rumors from the equation, the author seems to have blessed little to go on to try and delve into Klimt's mind. In this regard, I must agree with Barzun - this type of psychological history is questionable at best. If you do consider purchasing this work, do it for the artwork - don't bother yourself with the text.
Rating: 3
Summary: great format, poor reproductions
Comment: The format of this book is wonderful -- the pages unfold to become full 20x22" images. This is a perfect size for a poster or teaching aid -- IF the image quality weren't so poor! I wanted to like this book, really... but I've seen Klimt's work in person as well as in many other books, and the reproductions here are just so dull and grainy. Rich violets appear brown; the firey red hair in several pieces looks very subdued. "The Kiss", shown on the front cover, shows the couple with skin that is positively green. And the golds that Klimt is famous for, while I appreciate that they must be difficult to photograph, just do not come across.
I would have gladly paid more for this book if the publishers could have reproduced it better. It is obvious they intended this to be a picture book -- there are literally only two pages of writing -- so it would make sense to give the best reproductions possible! Even using a glossy paper instead of the dull matte finish would have given a better presentation.
If you are interested in truly appreciating Klimt and his work, I would recommend Taschen's posterbook for large, good quality reproductions. I also would recommend "Silver, Gold, and Precious Stones" from the Adventures in Art Series. This is geared toward a younger audience, but it beautifully laid out and presented, and actually uses a gold finish on the areas with gold leaf (nice touch!).
Rating: 5
Summary: Open your eyes . . .
Comment: I had no knowledge of this artist before receiving this book as a Christmas gift. What a wonderful, enlightening book!
The book has large plates of about 40 works, and smaller black and white prints of some others (including a number that were destroyed in a 1945 fire). The contrast between the exquisitely expressive faces, drawn with the precision of a renaissance master, and the wild, unrestrained clothing and background is captivating.
The author provides a good biography and helpful insights into the allegorical interpretation of the various works. A real bargain here.
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Title: 100 Drawings by Gustav Klimt ISBN: 0486224465 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1972 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Gustav Klimt by Tatjana Pauli, Christopher Huw Evans ISBN: 0789310406 Publisher: Rizzoli Pub. Date: 20 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.98 |
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Title: Klimt's Women by Gustav Klimt, Tobias G. Natter, Gerbert Frodl, Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere ISBN: 0300087969 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: November, 2000 List Price(USD): $55.00 |
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Title: Gustav Klimt: Painter of Women (Pegasus Library) by Susanna Partsch, Gustav Klimt ISBN: 3791320076 Publisher: Prestel USA Pub. Date: March, 1999 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Gustav Klimt: Modernism in the Making by Colin B. Bailey, Gustav Klimt ISBN: 0810935244 Publisher: Harry N. Abrams Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $60.00 |
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