Alejandro Xul Solar [Hardcover]

Mario H. Gradowczyk (Author), Jason Wilson (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

A study of the life and work of Argentine artist, Xul Solar, who played a prominent role in the Argentine avant-garde of the 1920s. He lived in Europe for 12 years where he absorbed modernist ideas - Symbolism, Expressionism and Constructivism. His later works included strong visionary elements.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810939827
• ISBN-13: 978-0810939820
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,119,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars El Jorge Luis Borges de la Pintura Sudamericana, January 8, 2000

By 

Carlos G. Coviello - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alejandro Xul Solar (Hardcover)

Mi comentario es sobre Xul Solar,y creo que cualquier libro que rescate la obra de este gran creador sudamericano servira para que ocupe el lugar que merece en la historia. Recomiendo a todo amante del arte, de cualquier lugar, que entre dentro del mundo de este artista para descubrir todas las facetas que deslumbraron (como lo hace un calidoscopio a los ojos de un niño)a artistas tan importantes como Jorge Luis Borges o Leopoldo Marechal (quien lo hizo personaje de su novela Adan Buenoayres).

Xul Solar hizo del mundo su materia de creación, acto que en la historia del arte muy pocos artistas lograron. Por supuesto, exceptuando a Dios.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visionary Occult Elegance, September 7, 2010

By 

Peter P. Fuchs (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alejandro Xul Solar (Hardcover)

When I see the price that this book now sells for I am triply happy that I bought it years ago and was able to enjoy it so many times. Xul Solar is one of the most delightful artists in history. But he also is important in another way. His interest in various occult aspects of human experience was expressed in the health-giving and life affirming colorfulness and accurate detail. Fortunately the reproductions in this book are exquisite so you really get a sense of what it is like to look at the originals of his work. Sadly, you can't see many in the States, you have to Buenos Aires for that. I cannot recommend a trip to the Museo Xul Solar highly enough. It is an architecturally exquisite building on its own, but the display of the art even surpasses that for visual preciousness in the best sense. When you see a Xul Solar in person the distance from Klee becomes more apparent. Of course in some broad way he is evocative of the alleged Art of the Fantastic theme in Latin American Art. But his works have a lapidarian quality that makes you feel that you are looking at brilliant gems more than anything else. This feeling in turn has a healing effect in some ways -- and I believe this was part of Xul Solar's philosophy -- where the somewhat negated and scattered occult aspects of the psyche and spirit are presented in the most palatable way. This is not to say at all that there is anything white-washed or neutered about the experience. It is a special world, a rarefied world that offers a playful and knowledgeably contented critique of the dross of normal life. This is the genius of Xul Solar's art. This is also the best thing I can say about this coffee-table book. The reproductions are good enough to give something of the same experience, and the text is informative. But a trip to the Xul Solar Museum in BA is a must is you are really drawn to his vision. There you can also see his mysterious musical keyboard which is fascinating. (By the way there is a great restaurant for lunch just down the street called, no kidding, El Palacio de Las Papas. They serve great meats and of course their own type of French Fry, a sort of inflated potato fry that looks like a a plate full of little balloons. And the Vitel Thone, as they call Vitello Tonnato, is excellent. A dish for some reason very popular in BA generally.) Enjoy a delightful Xul Solar afternoon!