Customer Reviews

Caspar Friedrich (Masters of Art)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It seems obvious to me that any artist monograph ought to have the following characteristics.
Be at least 9x12 inches and have full page illustrations. It doesn't do to have to lean forward and squint at a painting that is about the enormous mystery of mankind's place in the universe.
Have bright, clear colors in the reproductions. If you can't get to the real thing in Paris or Oslo, you need the next best thing.
Have a hard cover and decent paper for browsing/reference for years to come.
Provide a succinct legible text. Impenetrable or gaseous art theory drivel needs to be kept to a minimum.
In these regards, the Abrams Masters of Art series does really well, and the volume about Friedrich is an excellent summation of the work of a brilliant artist who had early success then died in tragic poverty. Such a life helps the paintings seem all the more authentic.
Another important criterion for those who cannot come up with the $85 that you need for a real monograph is that the book costs less than $20. It's a bargain.