Mexican Color [Hardcover]

Elena Poniatowska (Author), Amanda Holmes (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

Mexican Color explores the historical and co ntemporary use of colour in the country where virtually ever y environment - in the home, in public places and in natural settings - is rich with vibrant explosions of colour. '

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is a lavish picture book, meant to inspire and delight the reader with the vibrant colors of Mexican architecture, design, home furnishing, art, and artifact. Mexico is color incarnate, and Amanda Holmes's gorgeous full-color photographs bear this out graphically and spectacularly, showcasing everything from grand architectural facades to tiny decorating touches that enliven a corner; bring life to a small, dark room; or pull the brilliance of the sun indoors. Mexican culture uses color to dramatic effect in textiles, clothing, homes, markets, contemporary and folk art, interior design, and modern and ancient architecture. The author calls Mexico "the resting place of the rainbow," and the vibrant pictures and lively text of this beautiful book prove her right! --Mark A. Hetts

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First Edition edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 1556708351
• ISBN-13: 978-1556708350
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,455,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, March 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mexican Color (Hardcover)

If you enjoy beautiful photography for its own sake, this book is gorgeous; but if you want to see photographs of Mexican houses, interiors and folkcrafts, save your money. A big disappointment.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars rich and warm walls of color, August 4, 2001

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mexican Color (Hardcover)

"Mexico, a resting place for the rainbow" writes essayist Elena Poniatowska in this book centered on the subject of color. What makes the wonderful photographs by Amanda Holmes special and interesting is her way of seeing through the camera lens...in close-ups and unique angles. Categorized into themes, chapter # 1 is "The New World", with the fabulous wall paintings at Cacaxtla and Teotihuacan. # 2: "People of the Sun" focuses on some beautiful churches, as well as a few walls and doors. # 3: "A Sky Blue Balcony", has close-ups of brilliantly hued walls, balconies and building details. # 4: "The Brown Madonna", has everything from church niches to marketplace candies and more muli-colored walls. # 5: "The Space of Light", on modern Mexican architecture, and the colors that bring so much warmth to its clean, stark lines...with some of my favorite combinations, like apple green and bright pink...and that deep yellow that contrasts so well with the blues and aquas.

The essays that are with these photographs are interesting and strangely poetic. At first I found the writing somewhat peculiar, then realized it's translated from the Spanish (by Aurora Camacho de Schmidt) in an almost literal manner...but once you get into the rhythm of it, is excellent.

This hardback edition seems bigger than 160 pages because of its weight, with good quality thick pages, it's a sturdy volume. This book is much more about color than it is about Mexico, and for those of us who love color, it's a satisfying volume.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning sense of color, February 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mexican Color (Hardcover)

I like colors, I like Mexico and, as a result, I was left breathless looking at Holmes' photos. Not only is it a first rate printing job, but Holmes shows that she is an exciting and capable photographer. She is extraordinarily sensitive to color, texture and design, selecting architectural details that left me shaking my head and breathing deeply. Some of her photographs made me feel as if my batteries were recharging. And Poniatowska's commentary is pure poetry. Thanks.