The Secret Surrealist: The Paintings of Desmond Morris

Book Description

Between 1924 and 1934, Picasso's oeuvre developed dramatically. During this decade, the artist maintained a complex relationship with the burgeoning and hugely influential Surrealist movement. Eventually, he diverted from Surrealism to form a variant known as Supra-realism. This volume presents an integrated analysis of the whole of Picasso's artistic creation during the Surrealist period. Thematic texts reveal the extraordinary wealth of Picasso's work during this time. It begins with a study of his research on theater and ballet from 1914-23 and subsequently examines Picasso's work in painting, sculpture, and works on paper. This comprehensive account concludes with a study of the body of Picasso's work from 1935-40. These formative years, during which civil war raged in Picasso's native Spain, laid the groundwork for the increasingly political content of his later works. A detailed, fully illustrated chronology at the end of the book places this crucial period in its full intellectual and historical context.

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Even better as a whole
Every Painting he did is here
Art of Dali
DALI at his best...........
dali in text and graphic

Salvador Dali 1904-1989 (Basic Art)
Gilles Neret
Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3822859893

Book Description

Almost half Dalí's illustrations in this book have rarely been seen

This publication presents the entire painted oeuvre of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989). After many years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Néret finally located all the paintings of this highly prolific artist. Many of the works had been inaccessible for years - in fact so many that almost half the illustrations in this book have rarely been seen.

Customer Reviews:

Even better as a whole.......2006-02-04

The value of this book is in its 1600+ image reproductions. A few of them are photos of Dali or the people and places that inspired him. A very few show existing artworks to which Dali's creations responded. The overwhelming majority, however, display Dali's own paintings or the sketches related to them.

And the mass of imagery is overwhelming. The book traces Dali's output from his early, formative periods onwards. Although Dali was productive in the 1920s, his familiar style emerged in the 1930s and simply expanded for the next half-century. The chronological organization of this book lets us see Dali's art and personality develop. Among other things, we see how his sketching evolved from pen drawings early in his career to loose oil sketches later. This also seemed to complete some kind of cycle, from the relative crudity of his early work, to the crystalline finish of his best-known years, back to imprecision again, but with all of his mature expressiveness.

By its attempt at completeness, this presents aspects of Dali that other authors often ignore. For example, Dali was profoundly influenced by Catholic Christianity. Although his personal beliefs may be difficult to fathom, he produced some of the most beautiful images of Christ ever created.

Descharne's commentary supports the images well, but it's hard to read. I don't mean that the text is badly written - quite the opposite, it is very helpful, especially in biographical notes that describe Dali's life at the time of each work. Instead, I mean that my thoughts can't stay on the words for long when the pictures take such command of my attention.

//wiredweird

Every Painting he did is here.......2005-08-01

Every painting he did is here. They list the paintings in chrnological order. Each painting is titled and they describe some of the paintings throughout the book. In the back tehy list the size of the painting and what it was painted on if you want to know that stuff. Overall there are 1648 paintings or images. This book is great.

Art of Dali.......2004-03-22

I liked the book. The mix of explanations of the painting and his life was very descriptive. I learned a lot about his friends and famliy. The book just reminds me that in every genius there's a lunatic.

DALI at his best..................2004-02-21

After collecting, selling and trading Dali art works for more than 30 years, Mr. Robert Descharnes, one of Dali's past secretaries, has outdone himself in this magnificent book. Without a doubt it will become a collectors classic and a must for any serious Dali admirer. Well worth its price in gold!!!!!

dali in text and graphic.......2003-07-28

a beautifully sized book that contained excellent text about the painter's life and superb reproductions of his work in the book

Surrealist Painting: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)

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The persistance of Surrealism (with boiled beans, of course)

Surrealist Painting: Colour Library (Phaidon Colour Library)
Simon Wilson
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0714827223

Customer Reviews:

The persistance of Surrealism (with boiled beans, of course).......1999-08-15

This inexpensive book is a fine introduction to Surrealist painting. Wilson's opening essay covers Surrealism from roots to branches. The selections include all the most famous & many lesser-known Surrealist painters, including a few fellow travellers, & some of the paintings are inspired choices rather than the obvious ones. Color reproduction is better than one would expect at the price.

Book Description

A House of Her Own is the first full-length biography of the American Surrealist painter Kay Sage. Born in 1898 to wealthy American parents in upstate New York, Sage spent most of her childhood and young adult years in Italy and France. In 1937 she moved to Paris, where she became a member of the Surrealist group surrounding André Breton. She returned to the United States in 1940, settling in Woodbury, Connecticut. Her most productive years as an artist extended from roughly 1938 through the late 1950s, when her health began to deteriorate and she withdrew gradually from social contact. She stopped working on her oil paintings in 1958 but continued to forge her increasingly nihilistic poems until she shot herself in the heart in January 1963.

Along with her eloquent chronicle of Sage’s life, Judith D. Suther presents subtle, revelatory views of Sage’s artistic accomplishments. She takes us into the artist’s elegant, dreamlike paintings, connecting them to Sage’s complex inner life and to the artistic and intellectual worlds in which she moved. Suther also shows how the raw language and iconoclastic themes of Sage’s poetic works were related to Sage’s lifelong revolt against social and artistic convention.

Customer Reviews:

Suther Delivers on Multiple Fronts.......2006-08-09

If you're not into art, namely the movement known as surrealism, I'm not sure if you'd like this book; perhaps you would. This biography is about the bizarre life of early 20th century American surrealist oil painter Kay Sage. In describing Sage's life, author Judith Suther delves into feminist issues, aspects of European and American artists during the WWII era, privilege, and a not too shabby psycho-analysis of Sage's work and surrealism overall: in fact you might like this book if you're not into surrealist art, but in that case it would be a very esoteric book I imagine.

If, on the other hand, you're into art, and are not put off by surrealism, then you'll probably like this book a lot. I did. It's well represented by:

A) Presenting a passable biography of artist Kay Sage.
B) Presenting a passable psycho-analysis of Kay Sage's art.
C) Exploring contemporary feminist issues in the context of an early 20th century woman artist, who achieved some acclaim in a predominately male dominated art world.
D) Presenting fairly legible B&W and color plates of Sage's interesting art.
E) Presenting a passable history and definition of the surrealist school of art, and its transalantic American shift during WWII.

These aspects, not necessarily in this order, made the book enjoyable. Admittedly, I paint, and I place substantial significance on the philosophy of art, especially on the sub-category surrealism. On the one extreme, if you are oriented toward these criteria, this book is highly recommended; on the other, it might be an interesting read about an obscure early 20th century senator's daughter turned princess turned surrealist artist. The fact that Sage drilled her heart out with a pearl handled .32 at the bitter end lends a Hemingway-esque twist to this pseudo-lonely artist's tale; she apparently was a brassy broad inside (revealed in her poetry, which is also showcased in the book), with the exterior of fine French antique: which Sage was not, she was a good to great American artist, an individualist, and a pioneer (of herself, as well as her genre of art). Some of her finest works look frankly into the abyss.

In the final analysis, what kind of artist Sage was is ambiguous. She was a surrealist, yet she wasn't quite. She followed this school of art, yet created her own trademark icons. She really seemed to create a unique niche of her own within a genre. There's an enigma here that isn't easily defined. Were her works powerful, or subtle? That's up to the interpreter to decide.

A Remarkable Achievement.......2003-10-24

About 25 years ago I bought a used edition of a fairly comprehensive history of surrealism. While looking for references to Yves Tanguy, my favorite artist, I saw a small, black and white reproduction of one of Sage's paintings and became equally intriqued by her work. There has never been a biography of Tanguy in English, so I was amazed and delighted when Philip Horowitz told me about this book. Judith Suther's research and writing would do any art historian proud. She has reconstructed Sage's fascinating, tragic life with remarkable detail and immediacy. I have only two minor reservations with this book. Suther adopt's some feminist art hstorians' cant that Sage has been denied due recognition because of her gender. But Tanguy himself is only somewhat better known-note the absence of even one English-language biography. My other reservation is the paucity of color illustrations. I know this book is from a university press and the attendant economics, but for the rather high price, there should be more color illos here. Still, I'm grateful for the miraculous existence of this invaluable book.

Kay Sage 'A House of Her Own' by Judith D. Slater.......2000-10-16

This isn't the saddest life story I've read, but it is sadness at a most unusual point in the scale of melancholy. Riddled with irony, too. Almost 50 years to the day after Andre Breton commented that Sage's work 'must have been done by a man' Sage was not even listed by name in the surrealist art catalogs and none of her work was to be found in galleries or museums. Only a couple of solo shows and one painting at the 1958 World's Fair. Being the wife of a major surrealist such as Yves Tanguy did not bolster Kay Sage's career in art to say the least. Sage was already well-schooled in art before she met Yves and she came from a wealthy family. The images of her art shown in this book is well worth the money for the picures alone. It will show you 'unofficial personal surrealism' that Women and American Artists from all walks of life have had to face and overcome. Sage's work stands on it's own, yet the enigmatic energy of her ill-fated life and career are revealed in "A House Of Her Own".

The book has several illustrations of paintings, drawings, and early photos including interior/exterior photos of the home Sage and Tanguy shared in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Book Description

"Penrose" wrote Andre Breton "est Suurealiste dans l'amitie" -- and "The Friendly Surrealist" is an apt description for the man who more than any other nurtured the friendships and contacts which introduced European Surrealism to the British art world. This touching memoir, written by his son Antony, is published to accompany an important retrospective exhibition in Edinburgh and is richly illustrated with contemporary photographs, including those of his second wife (the author's mother), Lee Miller.

4 Book Art Collection; Surrealist Art; Egyptian Art; English Painting; the Art of Mesoamerica

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4 Book Art Collection; Surrealist Art; Egyptian Art; English Painting; the Art of Mesoamerica
Sarane Alexandrian , Cyril Aldred , William Gaunt , and Mary Ellen Miller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VEPKMI

Product Description

4 book art collection.

Abstract and Surrealist American Art. Prize Winners: The Fifty-Eighth Annual Exhibition of American Painting and Sculpture.

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Abstract and Surrealist American Art. Prize Winners: The Fifty-Eighth Annual Exhibition of American Painting and Sculpture.
Katherine. (The Art Institute of Chicago) Kuh
Manufacturer: Art Institute of Chicago
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KL7LO2

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Private Enemy Public Eye: The Work of Bruce Charlesworth (New Images Book)
Bruce Charlesworth
Manufacturer: Aperture Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0893813370

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Private Enemy -- Public Eye: The Work of Bruce Charlesworth (A New Images Book)
Bruce; Hagen, Charles; Stack, Trudy Wilner (editor); Stainback, Charles (editor) Charlesworth
Manufacturer: Aperture / International Center of Photography
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KQLZAS

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Oversimplified Theory

An Introduction to Public Choice Economics

Poor book at best fit for introductory undergraduate courses

A superb treatment of rent-seeking and log-rolling

The introduction was a failure

Government Failure: A Primer in Public Choice
TullockfGordonL
Manufacturer: Cato Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Calculus of Consent: Logical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy (Tullock, Gordon. Selections. V. 2.)

Public Choice III

The Rent-Seeking Society (Tullock, Gordon. Selections)

The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, Second printing with new preface and appendix (Harvard Economic Studies)

An Economic Theory of Democracy

ASIN: 1930865201

Book Description

This book provides a much-needed introduction to public choice thought and public policy by three acknowledged leaders in the field.

Customer Reviews:

Oversimplified Theory.......2005-10-25

The other reviewers have provided well-stated synopses of the arguments so I will skip to my opinion of the book.

"Government Failure" is a quick dip into political theory. It presents a particular school of thought and how that school would (should) perceive the current state of government. One can read the book in an afternoon and feel as though one has learned something. What it lacks, however, is a compelling argument that would convince anyone reading the theory with a critical eye.

One of the first problems is that even Mr. Tullock, a founder of the theory, does not actually like the term "public choice". Mr. Seldon also questions the appropriateness of the term. Coining a term, using it in a book title, then undermining its applicability in that same book casts some doubt on how thoroughly they have thought through this.

A second problem is that most claims made are unsubstantiated. What the reader is getting is logic that interpolates personal opinion and presents it as a truth. It is a perfectly acceptable approach when one considers this a philosophical tract, but not an acceptable approach if the intent is to "tell it like it is".

A third, more egregious problem, is the looseness of the the term "self interest". I would argue that, much like the demand curve, the meaning and degree of self interest a person demonstrates is not constant, but subject to external influencers or moods. Thus it is not necessarily a contradiction to expect an elected official to behave in a manner that has nothing to do with his/her interest in getting re-elected. This does not mean they don't care; it just means that it is not a factor in the decision.

Alas, this brief treatise does not do a credible job of defining terms. It does a somewhat better job with "log rolling" but chooses to define "rent seeking" using the words "rent" and "seek" in its definition. The rent-seeking examples provided were also less illuminating. One that stands out has to do with the mortgage deduction on the income tax. I believe Tullock is arguing that by making homeownership look attractive it ends up costing people more to move from one domicle to another than it would if they just stayed in apartments. But he doesn't explicitly state that, or even connect the dots for you.

Moreover, to use the loosely defined "self-interet" argument, it is reasonable to think that several factors come into play when a person chooses to buy a residence versus renting. People are very good at rationalizing decisions that on paper do not appear to be the most economically efficient. Why? Because the bottom line is not always the driver of human decisions.

Finally, question the critical praise on the back of the cover. One professor is quoted as saying "The scope of government control and activity has burgeoned far beyond the conception of the founders of the American republic." Consider the government's mission (aka the Preamble to the Consitution): form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. These are very broad statements indeed; it seems reasonable to argue that several interpretations were possible at the time they were made, just as several are possible now.

This book is a somewhat useful introduction to a theory that doesn't seem to have a good name. It is a good book for information gathering but not particularly enlightening.

An Introduction to Public Choice Economics.......2005-09-19

Gordon Tullock offers an insightful analysis of the economic costs of rent-seeking to society at large. Generally, rent-seeking involves spoliation of one party or society at large by the instrumentality of the law for the betterment of another party. The rent-seeking phenomenon has reached crescendo in the twentieth-century. "The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else," as Frederic Bastiat has said.

Many public choice economists emphasize the value of federalism or decentralization and for good reason. Federalism is in essence a division and a widespread diffusion of powers. However, in my humble opinion, the competitive element of federalism as it presently stands is rather diminutive. Federalism as it stands doesn't bode well for the states, the Tenth Amendment, and overall economic efficiency, as it is wrought with unfunded mandates from the central government and a top-down centralized state that knows little if any restraints on its forcible interventions, regulations, and redistribution activities. It is not that federalism is not conducive to competition, but rather that the architecture of a truly federal system has been eradicated in favor of a top-down unitary state with only vestigial republican elements remaining. Thus, the competitive nature of the present system is marginal compared to what it could be if it were a truly federal system. However, in recognizing the virtues and merits of federalism from an economic perspective as the public choice economists adroitly do, one can make a case for restoring federalism not only on constitutional grounds but also on economic grounds.

Perhaps the one downside to this book is that Arthur Seldon writes a somewhat mediocre introduction to this primer on public choice economics citing the abdication of Abraham Lincoln's vision of "a government of the people, for the people, and by the people" while presumptively proclaiming that Lincoln would be appalled at the application of economics to politics today. In reality, Lincoln was the pioneer swashbuckler politician who advanced spoliation of the many for the enrichment of a cadre of special interests, and he mastered rent-seeking, log-rolling, and protectionism. Being the quintessential Whig-Republican, he embraced spoliation of the common man for the aristocracy of privilege and patronage. Asked of Lincoln: "Why not let the South go in peace?" Response of Lincoln: "Who would pay for the government?" No book is perfect!

I'm receptive to the ideas of public choice economists, but there is much to be wanted. This book just doesn't quite do it for me. I would recommend that anyone interested in public choice economics just dive into Gordon Tullock's other books.

Poor book at best fit for introductory undergraduate courses.......2004-06-16

Not terribly useful, though a good introductory review of log-rolling and rent-seeking. Might perhaps do as a book for an introductory Political Science course if backed up with significant amounts of other material.

A superb treatment of rent-seeking and log-rolling.......2003-08-14

Since this is a book written by three authors separately, I shall discuss each part on its own, but first a few general remarks.

My biggest gripe is that the primary topic is not "public choice" per se, but rather "rent-seeking" with some discussion about externalities and so forth. While the discussion is illuminating and generally crisp and comprehensible, the over-use of the term "public choice analyis" proved annoying: Hardly a page went by without "public choice analyis," sometimes twice in the same sentence.

The general thrust of the text is that, however well-intentioned, no government can sustain a vibrant and diverse welfare-state over the long-term. Entrenched bureaucracies simply can't cope with the vagaries and varieties of human desires. Only the free market can hope to provide for the panoply of individuals' interests.

Part I: A concise, lucid, introduction to the theory of public choice. Professor Tullock has a definitely "small-government" mentality (which I share), but his discussion is still even-handed. The sole problem I have is that the few tables and graphs he employs are completely unitelligible to me. Fortunately, they're not essential, as his writing should be clear enough. The most important topics are rent-seeking and log-rolling, the former of which is the topic most treated by the co-authors. Also of interest is the discussion about bureaucracies.

Part II: A far ranging, perhaps wandering, discussion of the application of rent-seeking to American regulatory policy. Brady writes with a slightly more fervent tone than does Tullock, with a clear but tempered opinion of the roles lawyers, regulators, etc. Generally interesting, but the chapters somewhat lack coherence with each other beyond the theory.

Part III: Sheldon here presents the most entertaining and forcefully written section of the book. Full of vigor, he brings ip several issues that are of critical interest to proponents of small government: the Fabian fallacy, the growth of addiction to the welfare-state, and the welfare-state's role in the collapse of the family.

A great introduction for the interested student of politics or economics.

The introduction was a failure.......2002-12-14

Arthur Seldon uses Abraham Lincoln as an example of a leader who believed in limited government, "of the people, by the people, and for the people". In actuality, Lincoln lead a failed government attempt at state railroad building when he was in the Illinois legislature. He instituted the first conscription in the United States, and the first income tax. He lead the charge of an unconstitutional export tax on Southern cotton and then an actual blockade. He intimidated the Supreme Court and executed Union soldiers for sleeping on duty. Seldon should do a bit of reading about Lincoln before he uses him as an icon for small government. I, personally, was so turned off by the introduction that I couldn't bring myself to read the book.

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