Customer Reviews

Collage in Russia: XX Century

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Actually, my favorite books for looking at collages are the ones dedicated to individual artists (Kurt Schwitters and Hannah Hoch, for example), but I've also acquired fifteen or more books that cover work by a broad number of collagists. I insist on owning the latter kind of book because I'm such a collage freak, but I haven't been impressed with them, generally speaking. This is one of the best. There are TONS artists and styles represented, and the book is huge. It's all Russian art, of course - much new and some very old.

The average "collage book" buyer is probably somebody who makes collages and is looking for inspiration. This book isn't for all such people. It's not for the kind of people who frequent scrapbooking stores or for makers of decorative collages such as adorn the walls of doctor's office waiting rooms. And there are probably better books for those who want to explore the "cleverly surreal" style of magazine photomontage. HOWEVER, if you love 20th century abstract art, Rauschenberg-style assemblages, or just DIY cultural crumbs of the sort that early mail artists created, then I think you'll be happy with this book. There are no works here that I like as much as my favorite Schwitters, Hoch, or Rauschenberg works, but there are lots of inspiring ideas.

I'm sure I paid at least $120.00 for this when I saw it in Miami a few years ago. So, the price has dropped.