Customer Reviews

De Chirico (Great Modern Masters)

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As in all titles in the Great Modern Masters series published by Abrams: Colors are not vibrant, often with a brownish tint or/and too dark, and their accuracy is just O.K. There are 64 pages of a good size 9.5x12 inches (24x30.5 cm). It begins with an introduction with 5-6 small b&w pictures on 2 pages, which is followed by a biography with 5-6 small b&w pictures on 2 next pages. The rest is dedicated to good size over 60 full color plates divided into chapters dedicated to artist's carrier periods, style directions, or themes, each described by 12-16 lines of text. The series is inferior to the same size paperback series published by Taschen in 1990s, but superior to Taschen's series of smaller sizes published latter. Unfortunately, the Taschen series does not cover Bacon, Botero, Brancusi, Braque, Calder, de Chirico, Johns, Kokoschka, Leger, Man Ray, Malevich, Modigliani, and Rouault this series does.

Others have noted the reproductions in this series to be off-toned.

Nevertheless, from this book I was able to create a large (over two meter by 1.5 meter) canvas inspired by the cover art here and other works (that girl chasing a hop across a plaza), adapting the images to the borderland here, and the iron curtain recently erected under a past administration.

A sandal instead of a rubber glove.

A bovine skull replacing the Greek god Apollo.

hanging upon our new iron curtain

etc.

And beyond the iron wall, the vibrant life and freedom which is Mexico.

Thus, I discover within this work, as did so many creative artists of the past century, strength and inspiration, not only in painting but other visual arts, specifically photography.

Certainly one may wish for greater in-depth biography and critical analysis than what is already so generously offered herein, but then you may wish to consult other more interpretive works of art criticism such as Giorgio De Chirico: The Endless Journey

As for myself, I find the work speaks for itself, in an awful silence, and best contemplated within that silence.

Set this book open by your bedside, and you will hear.

If you love De Chirico,and would like to look at 64 full color reproductions covering his whole career at a reasonable price than get one of these in nice condition.