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Art Nouveau: The Essential Reference
"This is a gorgeous book, ideal for any lover of Art Nouveau." —bookaddiction
Dover's extensive library of Art Nouveau graphic art and typography serves as the source for this comprehensive volume, which features hundreds of magnificent full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Images by virtually every key artist of the Art Nouveau movement include the work of Alphonse Mucha, E. A. Seguy, Aubrey Beardsley, Koloman Moser, Max Benirschke, and M. P. Verneuil.
Selections from rare books and portfolios of the period include works never reprinted since their initial publication. This book also reprints material from the major Art Nouveau periodicals, including Jugend, The Studio, Dekorative Vorbilder, and The Keramic Studio. Detailed bibliographical information concerning every source ― including biographical details of each artist ― makes this collection a vital reference tool as well as a stunning compendium of significant and beautiful Art Nouveau graphics. Students of graphic art, typography, and illustration, as well as graphic designers and advertising professionals, will prize this remarkable resource.
Dover's extensive library of Art Nouveau graphic art and typography serves as the source for this comprehensive volume, which features hundreds of magnificent full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Images by virtually every key artist of the Art Nouveau movement include the work of Alphonse Mucha, E. A. Seguy, Aubrey Beardsley, Koloman Moser, Max Benirschke, and M. P. Verneuil.
Selections from rare books and portfolios of the period include works never reprinted since their initial publication. This book also reprints material from the major Art Nouveau periodicals, including Jugend, The Studio, Dekorative Vorbilder, and The Keramic Studio. Detailed bibliographical information concerning every source ― including biographical details of each artist ― makes this collection a vital reference tool as well as a stunning compendium of significant and beautiful Art Nouveau graphics. Students of graphic art, typography, and illustration, as well as graphic designers and advertising professionals, will prize this remarkable resource.
- GenresArtNonfictionArt History
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 27, 2023
Fantastic reference for the drawing I was making. I will certainly be using it again and again and again.
June 22, 2016
'Art Nouveau: The Essential Reference' by Carol Belanger Grafton is a pictorial selection of examples of gorgeous Art Nouveau replicas.
The book begins with an interesting prologue that talks a bit about Dover's large catalog of this kind of work and where it came from. The book is sectioned by country and works in the pages give notes as to what other Dover collections they came from. The last chapter is a collection of Art Nouveau posters. There is not much text. The book is mostly reproductions of borders and signage and even the occasional dish pattern. There are the occasional stained glass window design and these are my favorites.
It's a good collection for reference, but maybe only really "essential" for an art or design student. It is good in the way it divides out the work by country so that the viewer can see the subtle differences. I like the Dover art collections and I like Art Nouveau design, so I enjoyed looking through this collection.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The book begins with an interesting prologue that talks a bit about Dover's large catalog of this kind of work and where it came from. The book is sectioned by country and works in the pages give notes as to what other Dover collections they came from. The last chapter is a collection of Art Nouveau posters. There is not much text. The book is mostly reproductions of borders and signage and even the occasional dish pattern. There are the occasional stained glass window design and these are my favorites.
It's a good collection for reference, but maybe only really "essential" for an art or design student. It is good in the way it divides out the work by country so that the viewer can see the subtle differences. I like the Dover art collections and I like Art Nouveau design, so I enjoyed looking through this collection.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
November 11, 2015
Nice pictures of Art Nouveau divided by their Country of Origin.
Belle immagini dell'Art Nouveau divisi per paese di origine.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND DOVER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIEW!
Belle immagini dell'Art Nouveau divisi per paese di origine.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND DOVER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PREVIEW!
June 13, 2019
This is a book to examine in a library. One just turns pages and notices what Art Nouveau looks like. And this is a very particular place. Because it assumes one has access to a library having this particular book, and the same person does not have access to Google Images.
Is this an essential reference? No. There are a few examples. Far from essential. Maybe short would be a better word to describe it.
Is this an essential reference? No. There are a few examples. Far from essential. Maybe short would be a better word to describe it.
January 19, 2021
Beautiful illustrations, paintings, fabrics, etc. in the Art Nouveau style separated in sections by country.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2019
This was extremely lovely, even in digital form.
I will admit up-front that I am not exactly known for my vast repertoire of artistic knowledge. However, if you live with one long enough, you pick up some stuff by osmosis, and the Art Nouveau movement has always interested me stylistically. Or, to boil it down to the basics I probably ought to be using when discussing art, I think it's pretty. :)
I'm not quite sure I would consider this the essential reference. It might perhaps work as such for those that are more familiar with the artists included, but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of biographical info on the art and the artists themselves that had been promised. The little blurbs at the end were nowhere near enough information to do anything other than perhaps remind someone who already knew who the person was.
I can't speak as to the completeness of the art and artists included except to say that there were quite a few I had certainly never seen before and I was impressed with the breadth of the movement. I liked that it was separated by country of origin, and the fact that not simply paintings but jewelry and even wallpaper. It certainly gave the reader a taste of the period, which I thought was fun and useful.
This book was provided to me for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit up-front that I am not exactly known for my vast repertoire of artistic knowledge. However, if you live with one long enough, you pick up some stuff by osmosis, and the Art Nouveau movement has always interested me stylistically. Or, to boil it down to the basics I probably ought to be using when discussing art, I think it's pretty. :)
I'm not quite sure I would consider this the essential reference. It might perhaps work as such for those that are more familiar with the artists included, but I was a bit disappointed with the lack of biographical info on the art and the artists themselves that had been promised. The little blurbs at the end were nowhere near enough information to do anything other than perhaps remind someone who already knew who the person was.
I can't speak as to the completeness of the art and artists included except to say that there were quite a few I had certainly never seen before and I was impressed with the breadth of the movement. I liked that it was separated by country of origin, and the fact that not simply paintings but jewelry and even wallpaper. It certainly gave the reader a taste of the period, which I thought was fun and useful.
This book was provided to me for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2015
As with most of Dover's book this is a great source book for Art Nouveau designs. The selections are drawn from Art Nouveau periodicals, posters, textile and wallpaper designs, bookplates, jewellery and stained glass. Many of the designs are taken from previously published Dover source books, so it acts as a best of/basic introduction.
However Art Nouveau officiando's take note. It only covers examples from France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslavakia (exclusively Mucha), England, Switzerland and the US, with the first 3 countries offering the largest examples. It has a biographical index to the artists, but this contains very cursory biographical detail. I would also question the assertion that it contains "images by virtually every key artist of the Art Nouveau movement". There are no examples by Klimt, Mackintosh. Tiffany, Lalique or Gaudi so there are major ommissions.
As a source book, it offers some beautiful examples of the genre, but it is by no means an exhaustive survey.
I received a review copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
However Art Nouveau officiando's take note. It only covers examples from France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslavakia (exclusively Mucha), England, Switzerland and the US, with the first 3 countries offering the largest examples. It has a biographical index to the artists, but this contains very cursory biographical detail. I would also question the assertion that it contains "images by virtually every key artist of the Art Nouveau movement". There are no examples by Klimt, Mackintosh. Tiffany, Lalique or Gaudi so there are major ommissions.
As a source book, it offers some beautiful examples of the genre, but it is by no means an exhaustive survey.
I received a review copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 9, 2015
I read this book for NetGalley.
One phrase - timelessly and elegantly beautiful. This review is short, because if you are a lover of Art Nouveau (some written description and many gorgeous illustrations) this book is perfect.
Ms. Grafton and Dover Publications (with their usual excellent publication standards) evoke the Art Nouveau world and educate the reader about a very important modern artistic movement. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and imagining what that world was like. A wonderful way to be artistically inspired and travel to a more romantic and attractive era.
If you are any sort of artist, or simply interested in Art Nouveau, this book is for you. Absolutely stunning!
A great book!
One phrase - timelessly and elegantly beautiful. This review is short, because if you are a lover of Art Nouveau (some written description and many gorgeous illustrations) this book is perfect.
Ms. Grafton and Dover Publications (with their usual excellent publication standards) evoke the Art Nouveau world and educate the reader about a very important modern artistic movement. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and imagining what that world was like. A wonderful way to be artistically inspired and travel to a more romantic and attractive era.
If you are any sort of artist, or simply interested in Art Nouveau, this book is for you. Absolutely stunning!
A great book!
November 24, 2015
Art Nouveau: The Essential Reference is a mainly illustrative book about the Art Nouveau movement. The book is divided into countries. I found it interesting to see how each country had its own style and design. At the end of the book was a short paragraph on each of the various works included. The only drawback of the book is it was too short. I wanted to see more text and examples. But it is a good short course in artists for the art style.
I received a free ebook copy of this title through Netgalley.
I received a free ebook copy of this title through Netgalley.
January 7, 2016
This isn’t an essential reference to the period style so much as a handy guide to the Dover Publications that cover the principle schools of early 20th Century design. France, Czecholslovakia, Germany, England, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and the Art Nouveau Poster each have their own chapter, providing details on each parent edition. Although it can stand alone, it makes me terribly impatient to wonder what else is out there. Art Nouveau: The Essential Reference deserves a place in any school or artist’s bookshelf…especially one with access to the larger collection.
November 20, 2015
A wonderful book charting the spread and influence of this vibrant art and design from France to the US.
The designs and colourwork are a joy and the posters section is very colourful.
A must have book for anyone interested in design.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
The designs and colourwork are a joy and the posters section is very colourful.
A must have book for anyone interested in design.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
May 1, 2016
Gorgeous! A great introduction to Art Nouveau that includes stencils, ceramics, some jewelry, illustrations, wallpaper, stained glass and posters, most in color. It's not extensive but will give the reader a great place to start research. I received a free copy of the ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
December 6, 2015
Exactly what it says it is – an essential Art Nouveau reference book. Packed with black and white and colour illustrations, and covering all the countries where Art Nouveau flourished, it’s a delight from start to finish and a very valuable resource.
January 12, 2016
Perhaps an "inspirational" rather than "essential" reference. A handy source for artists and designers, but the brief introduction and artist biographies allow for only a basic understanding of the movement. As a Mucha fan, I did love the inclusion of many of his works.
December 24, 2017
This book is a collection of ornamental Art Nouveau, mostly from previous Dover publications, figuring printed materials, textile and wallpaper designs, some jewellery and stained glass, but no architecture. Quite all the book is illustration, with very little text: short introduction, index of artists and bibliography. The material is divided by countries: France, England, Germany, Austria, Checoslovakia, Switzerland, USA. No nordic countries, no Spain, no Russia, no Hungary, which I consider a big omission.. Also no works from Gaudì, Tiffany Lalique, Klimt, no Faberge eggs, nothing of the famous Zsolnay porcelains, there is only one poster from Toulouse-Lautrec, while the Mucha section is a bit richer. It's good as a general reference of Art Nouveau ornamental motifs (I appreciated especially those with animals), but it is far from complete.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews