Customer Reviews

Great Housewives of Art

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4 star:		(1)
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Sally Swain's Great Housewives of Art and ditto Revisted are hilariously funny parodies of famous paintings, and a very sophisticated form of humour in that if you do not know the original paintings you are at a loss as to why other people are rolling in the aisles. Women find them funnier than men, but men are the ones being sniped at by Ms Swain's brush. What she does is take a famous painting, like Munch's "The Scream" and alter it ever so slightly so that it becomes "Mrs Munch bemoans the tomato sauce stains on the wall". So you have Monet's "Waterlillies" becoming "Mrs Monet vacuums the pool" and Rembrandt's "Woman Bathing" Mrs Rembrandt defrosting the Fridge. A good book to keep in the bathroom, but if you are having a large party remove it or people stay there too long!

Sally Swain has taken the time to find the key which can unlock all those frustrations ordinary people have with the arcane manner in which MOST critics deal with art. It is such a baloon burster that it dare not be missed by all serious students of art.

Have had my copy since this was published eons ago. Even someone with just passing knowledge of the most well known painters and a sense of humor will enjoy it. Gave as a gift this year to a part-time artist/full-time housewife who desperately needed a laugh. Success! Really clever book.

I bought this book over a decade ago at a used bookstore & rediscovered it while I was reorganizing my library. I enjoyed looking at this book now as much as I did then. If you've seen the classic masterpieces at an art museum or in art books, you'll appreciate this book from a housewife viewpoint. Sally Swain is a great illustrator with a subtle sense of humor.

I first read Sally Swain books in England and had to purchase her calendars as well as her books. They surely do bring chuckles to the "reader".

This is a fun book. Clever idea and usually understandable. Especially good for presenters who wish to add some humor and/or color to a talk.