Frank Carlson Library

Gustav Klimt's exotic, sensuous paintings recall the art of ancient civilizations - their patterns and ornamentation reminiscent of Byzantine mosaics and Egyptian murals. But from what context did these masterworks spring? This beautifully illustrated book is a guide to the life and work of Gustav Klimt. Klimt is one of the most influential artists of the Art Nouveau movement, first achieving fame as a decorative painter before turning to portraiture...

Claude Monet's tranquil water-lily paintings and rural landscape scenes are among some of the most treasured artworks of the 19th and 20th centuries. Hailed as the 'Prince of Impressionism' for his pioneering role in the French artistic movement, Monet is widely recognised for his free brushstroke and experimentation with colour and natural light. In this beautifully illustrated book, Ann Sumner explores the life of this prodigious painter and the...

In the words of Matisse and Picasso, Paul Cézanne was the 'father of us all', his approach to color and perspective paving the way for later modernist art movements such as Cubism and Expressionism, as he moved beyond the figurative tradition and towards abstraction. This book charts Cézanne's journey as an artist, his involvement with the Impressionist movement and his importance as a leading Post-Impressionist. It explores the places where he...

Some of Degas's most well-known artwork depicts things he loved: the ballet and horse racing. But, he considered himself an artist who painted real life. Today, he's often categorized as an Impressionist, though that's not a designation Degas appreciated. In this captivating biography, readers are introduced to Degas's life, his painting technique, and some of the his most famous works, such as Blue Dancers and Racehorses at Longchamp. Age-appropriate...

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was one of the foremost Impressionist artists, known for his en plein air scenes of middle-class leisure. But Renoir's primary interest lay indoors, in depictions of sensuous female nudes and intimate domestic scenes, painted in a warm, bright palette. This book explores the life and work of this leading light of Impressionism, showcasing his best-loved artwork alongside fascinating biographical detail. It also examines the...

Van Gogh's distinctive style of expressive brushstrokes and bold colours is now world famous, but during his lifetime the artist was met with cold disinterest from his contemporaries. This book explores the fascinating life story of this tortured soul, who came late to art and suffered throughout his life from anxiety and depression. It unravels the influences behind his artworks, from the luminous landscapes of the south of France to the Japanese...

Vincent van Gogh was one of the world's most famous and prolific 19th century painters, yet, only sold one painting in his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, (1888) for 400 Francs. The painting, which sold in Brussels just a few months before van Gogh's death at the age of 37, was to provide the artist with a legacy that would see him become a global inspiration for the future of art. Through sheer commitment, and determination, Van Gogh created an artistic...

In the latter part of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was a forerunner of the Art Nouveau movement in Vienna, Austria. This new movement brought forth one of the most decorative, leading European artists, and greatest exponent of erotic art that the world had ever seen. Klimt began his career as a highly renowned academic painter, but he was propelled toward modern trends in art, which saw a...

Paul Cézanne was highly revered by not just his contemporaries (although this took some time to materialize), but also the 20th- and 21st-century artists that were to follow him. Perhaps this is because his paintings and great works were universal and easy to interpret, with monumental great landscapes, still life, and portraitures, or perhaps it is because he brought something fresh, exciting, and new. Described as the "Father of Modernism," Cezanne's...

Mexico is a land where varied cultural and political heritages have inspired an art that has a unique and compelling history of its own. The influence of a frequently changing political and social system over the centuries forced Mexicans to search carefully for their national identity, and they have often looked to art for a sense of distinction.