A quality offering
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A large format exhibition catalogue, a slightly over square volume printed on quality art paper. The introduction discusses Wyeth's development and output in relation to other artists; this is followed by four essays covering various aspects of the artist's work. These sections are illustrated throughout almost entirely in colour with examples of Wyeth's work and comparative examples of other's, many of them at a good size. The main section of full colour plates commences on age 122 and concludes on page 209. This is followed by a detailed list of works in the exhibition; there is no chronology or bibliography.
The main section of plates presents the images one to a page, and many are of a good size. Inevitably the long landscape proportion images do not fare so well, with the publishers seemingly reluctant to cross the gutter, these appear as little more than a three or four inch wide strip across the page; even a number of the more regularly proportioned works could easily have been reproduced larger. However that aside it is a fine volume, beautifully produced and with a feel of quality, which offers over 150 examples of Wyeth's output including paintings, watercolours and drawings reproduced in full colour.
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a solitary pleasure
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Andrew Wyeth, though popular and well represented in the USA, is relatively unkown and ignored over here. Hopefully this fine book will go some way to changing that as his works remain fresh, challenging and thought provoking today.
the book is based on 2 exhibitions that took place at the end of 2005 & up to July 2006 in Philidelphia & Atlanta.unlike most books based on exhibitions this one is not limited to a handful of the artists works with page upon page of pompous waffle used as filler.Rather many works are present and a very complete and satisfactory overview of Wyeths talent is on display here. the book is split up into various sections,his artistic inluences,( which include his father),his early work, understanding his meaning and his wife. All these and more come with an abundance of illustrations and in depth but easily understood explanations and histories. the balance struck between depth of information and the amount of actual pictures is managed perfectly, if you wish to just browse you will not be dissapointed but if you want to know more then there is plenty here to learn from.
At the end of each section are brief notes on all the paintings shown in the section which adds even more interest.
Best of all is the final section which has 86 plates of Wyeths work. one plate to each page these come as a bit of a surprise as I felt the pictures throughout the book were printed very nicely, these plates, however, are something else again and quite frankly if the book had been them alone I would still have bought it the quality is so good.
The book uses to grade paper of almost photgraphic paper quality throughout, all the paintings are beautifully copied and never crowded or shown too small to see clearly and the size of the book is just right. it is also very well bound and looks just as nice without the dust jacket.
I know that £30 may seem like a lot of money for someone you may not know that well or even at all but believe me this is one of those rare art books that is worth every penny, you will not be disapointed this book is a joy to own.
Wyeth is a painter who will make you look closely at his works, at first glance he appears to be a very good realist painter but a second glance shows you that all is not as it at 1st seems, along with Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer he see's loneliness and solitude in the American landscape and he draws his viewer in to that world where beauty,sorrow and regret seem to live side by side.
Memory and magic shows and explains his vision in one superb volume.this is highly recommended.
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