Customer Reviews

Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints

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A must-have book for collectors of campaign memorabilia, political historians and avid Obama fans. This beautifully printed book belongs in your personal library. It captures the essence of the 2008 political campaign with a wide variety of posters inspired by Obama's run for the presidency. The plates are electric and powerful. A wonderful gift book for those who want to remember the enthusiasm of a large underground movement that helped propel Barack Obama into the White House. the book includes a history of the poster movement in the USA and biographies of each of the artists.

I bought this book for my sister, who's an art teacher, and she's been thrilled. For those of us who like Obama, there's obviously a strong propaganda value in this text, which tracks his rise and success through the images used to promote him. It would be a powerful text for teaching young people how to read political images. What my sister loves about it is the concentrated collection of 50 ways to represent the same face.

Historian Hal Wert, professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, has a long standing interest in political posters -- it brings together his formidable knowledge of the political process and his deep appreciation for artists and the important role they play in articulating issues and trends in our society. Over the years he has amassed a phenomenal collection of political posters dating from the 1800s onward. As the Obama candidacy evolved, Wert was in touch with people across the country in an effort to research, document and collect Obama posters created by anonymous and professional artists. The result is a book that tells a truly American story of hope and transformation.

Wert's insightful essays place the posters in historical context. His quick wit and style capture the passion and excitement of an unfolding campaign, and the poster artists who celebrated it. Information about each artist provides additional insight to the extraordinary depth of commitment and support people from all walks of life felt for Obama. This is a lusciously produced book - a delight to both the eye and hand, something to pass on with pride to future generations.

This collection of Obama art is a magnificant journey into the grassroots passions that burst into a full art movement during Obama's historical run for the Presidency. Both the color production and the layout are outstanding, and even the jacket cover folds out into a full-color poster reproduction. The collection of posters and biographies of the artist demonstrate Wert's indepth understanding of the social significance of this art, and his historical perspective of political art in the epilogue is a treat to read. Don't miss this one, it will be on the collectors lists.

Hal Wert takes us on a journey of Obama Art, and how passions within the artistic community burst through to the mainstream. "Hope" gives us an in-depth view of how a revolution in art and media played out on a grassroots level throughout America and how this time was a important artistic moment worldwide.

Overall, a great book for art lovers and historians alike. Obama art collectors will find a compendium of pieces they may not have known existed, and "Hope" works as a great reference to pick up additional art that still may be available.

Pictures are beautiful and are definitely the highlight of this book. Also appreciated Wert's knowledge of political art, which was pretty fascinating addition to the book. His expertise made me look at political art in a whole new light.

Highly recommend this holiday season as a gift.

Timeless. The book itself is a work of art. A fine collection of unique works of art. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in discovering some the better artists of our time. Each artist lends their talents to honor a significant time in history. HOPE, without it, then there's despair.