Colors of Provence [Hardcover]

Michel Biehn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 13, 1997

Rich earth tones, bountiful harvests and bri ght vegetable stalls make Provence one of the most celebrate d and adored regions in the world. Biehn captures the vibran t colours of the area and reveals the many elements that mak e up its authentic palette. '

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Artists have long been attracted to Provence for the quality of the light and for the dramatic color; now Colors of Provence demonstrates just what Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and others found there. Divided into chapters entitled "Red," "Orange," "Yellow," "Green," "Blue," and "White, Black, & Gray," the book is a feast of photographs celebrating the vermillion walls of a small French village, the shades of green in a Provençal herb garden, the cerulean blue of lavender spindles. In and around these luscious photos Michel Biehn weaves a net of words describing the culture and customs of Provence, with a few recipes thrown in for good measure. The Colors of Provence is a book made for dreaming over, ideal for those who have seen Provence for themselves, and those who hope to one day.

Review

"This is the book I will offer to all my friends who love France." -- Southern Accents --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First edition. edition (August 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556706197
• ISBN-13: 978-1556706196
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Local Color, March 21, 2001

By 

west - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colors of Provence (Hardcover)

Michel Biehn records in loving and sensuous detail the customs and culture of his native Provence, using color as an ingenious organizing theme. The book goes far beyond the cliched lavender. It reveals the purples that fill Provencal gardens at Easter: lilac, iris and wisteria; the deep indigo that dyed the "jute de Nimes" exported to the United States as "denim" (de Nimes) by Levi Strauss; the hot saffron that flavors bouillabaisse; the orange coral marketed at Marseille; the white-on-white boutis embroidery on quilts and linens for the traditional trousseau; the red stone villages rising from the red earth; the yellow of sunflowers, straw hats and bright silk petticoats. Biehn's particular interest, and expertise, in traditional Provencal fabrics and costumes provides a logical palette on which to juxtapose these dramatic colors. Filled with memories, history, folklore, poetry, garden wisdom and mouthwatering recipes, The Colors of Provence is illustrated with ravishing color photos of Provencal landscapes, homes and objects.

This book has very much enriched our journeys in Provence and prodded our memories when we reminisce about them. Michel Biehn's idiosyncratic list of his favorite places to visit in Provence has led us to wonderful restaurants, shops, tile works, fabric stores and museums. We found it a valuable resource for understanding the significance of artifacts in village museums in Provence, and especially the collections of the extraordinary Provencal folk museum - the Musee Arlaten - that poet Frederic Mistral established in Arles with his Nobel prize money. A lovely and lively book perfect for planning a journey to Provence or dreaming about one.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous photos, magnificent colors!, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Colors of Provence (Hardcover)

I was given this book as a gift upon returning from a trip to France, and this more than any of my travel photos will remind me of and make me yearn to be back in Provence. Very beautiful!

3.0 out of 5 stars Miss French to be, July 23, 2011

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Miss French to be - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Colors of Provence: Traditions, Recipes, and Home Decorations from the South of France (Hardcover)

This book is an good foray into the French provencial colours and decorating basics. It is lovely to be able to get some insight.