Inspired by one of the world’s greatest novels, Ohio artist Matt Kish set out on an epic voyage of his own one day in August 2009. More than one hundred and fifty years following the original publication of Moby-Dick, Kish began illustrating Herman Melville’s classic, creating an image a day over the next eighteen months based on text selected from every page of the 552-page Signet Classics paperback edition. Completely self-taught, Kish refused to set any boundaries for the artwork and employed a deliberately low-tech approach in response to the increasing popularity of born-digital art and literature. He used found pages torn from old, discarded books, as well as a variety of mediums, including ballpoint pen, marker, paint, crayon, ink, and watercolor. By layering images on top of existing words and images, Kish has crafted a visual masterpiece that echoes the layers of meaning in Melville’s narrative.
Moby-Dick in Pictures: One Drawing for Every Page
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Not so much honored as reimagined, Moby-Dick in Kish's hands is the vertiginous immersive experience Melville intended.”
—Bookforum
“In an age of soulless, cookie-cutter computer illustrations, Matt Kish's intense and obsessive drawings, paintings, and montages are a riotous delight. Kish's artwork renews our age-old love of expressive handmade imagery. He humanizes his material in way that has all but disappeared from the design scene. It's great to see that passion again.”
—Paula Scher, Pentagram
“[A] wondrous compendium . . . sometimes vibrant, sometimes somber, Kish’s images are relentlessly fresh and eye-catching . . . Even the least visual readers will feel energized by Kish’s artistry and his obvious passion for Melville’s work.”
—Library Journal
"Conjuring the frenetic energy of tempest-tossed waves so integral to Moby-Dick's setting, the artist's bold, full-page drawings in highly saturated colors illustrate passages he's called out, but also extend the narrative to suggest that modern-day man hungers to fulfill his self-proclaimed destiny every bit as much as the legendary whalers did....clearly infused with an intense joy that only comes from following one's heart."
—ForeWord Book Reviews
“I'm in love...with Kish's art work....Who knows, Matt Kish may be the impetus to finally read Moby-Dick.”
—Contemporary Literature
"Woven of equal parts visual mastery and creative bravery, Moby-Dick in Pictures is a treasure in and of itself, one that not only pays homage to Melville, but also reimagines what it means to embark on a modern-day epic voyage of creative restlessness."
—The Atlantic
"Kish has done something really fascinating [in Moby-Dick in Pictures]. He has not only re-imagined Moby Dick for a modern audience. He has also slyly, almost imperceptibly, yanked this nineteenth century novel into the twenty-first century, underlining its relevance for the post-post-modern world. These illustrations are not simply a sideshow to the novel: they are a well-thought out pleasure that enhances the enjoyment and understanding of Melville’s work."
—The Rumpus
"The overall impact of Moby-Dick in Pictures is stunning..."
—The Oregonian
—Bookforum
“In an age of soulless, cookie-cutter computer illustrations, Matt Kish's intense and obsessive drawings, paintings, and montages are a riotous delight. Kish's artwork renews our age-old love of expressive handmade imagery. He humanizes his material in way that has all but disappeared from the design scene. It's great to see that passion again.”
—Paula Scher, Pentagram
“[A] wondrous compendium . . . sometimes vibrant, sometimes somber, Kish’s images are relentlessly fresh and eye-catching . . . Even the least visual readers will feel energized by Kish’s artistry and his obvious passion for Melville’s work.”
—Library Journal
"Conjuring the frenetic energy of tempest-tossed waves so integral to Moby-Dick's setting, the artist's bold, full-page drawings in highly saturated colors illustrate passages he's called out, but also extend the narrative to suggest that modern-day man hungers to fulfill his self-proclaimed destiny every bit as much as the legendary whalers did....clearly infused with an intense joy that only comes from following one's heart."
—ForeWord Book Reviews
“I'm in love...with Kish's art work....Who knows, Matt Kish may be the impetus to finally read Moby-Dick.”
—Contemporary Literature
"Woven of equal parts visual mastery and creative bravery, Moby-Dick in Pictures is a treasure in and of itself, one that not only pays homage to Melville, but also reimagines what it means to embark on a modern-day epic voyage of creative restlessness."
—The Atlantic
"Kish has done something really fascinating [in Moby-Dick in Pictures]. He has not only re-imagined Moby Dick for a modern audience. He has also slyly, almost imperceptibly, yanked this nineteenth century novel into the twenty-first century, underlining its relevance for the post-post-modern world. These illustrations are not simply a sideshow to the novel: they are a well-thought out pleasure that enhances the enjoyment and understanding of Melville’s work."
—The Rumpus
"The overall impact of Moby-Dick in Pictures is stunning..."
—The Oregonian
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have heard it said that most people who talk about "Moby Dick" have never read it. Actually, it is one of my favorite books and I am hoping that this fascinating volume might actually get people interested in reading it. The artist takes a line (or so) from every page of the book and illustrates it - sometimes in a very unique way. The pictures do not all adopt the same artistic style, but are left to the fanciful ideas Matt Kish discovers about the meaning of a particular passage.
One aspect that comes through is - not just the artwork - but how exceptional and poetic Herman Melville was. The selections create moments of thought and space in our noise-saturated world. Highly recommended because there is simply nothing like this anywhere.
One aspect that comes through is - not just the artwork - but how exceptional and poetic Herman Melville was. The selections create moments of thought and space in our noise-saturated world. Highly recommended because there is simply nothing like this anywhere.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Moby Dick in Pictures is absolutely splendid, and may well become as much of a classic as its namesake. By all means go for the hardcover in slipcase. The book is a series of images using techniques such as collage, drawing, paint, inks, markers - all on "repurposed" papers that give a richness to the overall effect. Each image responds to a small exerpt from a page of the novel. Sometimes the images are clearly representative, sometimes they arise more from the emotional impact or visceral response to the quotation. Each is worth spending time to asorb. Especially if you are into altered books or collage, or edgy art that falls into the brut or naked or naive categories, you'll probably love this one as much as I.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this unique art style.The varity of drawings bring new life to a classic novel.
There are pictures in this book to appeal to all tastes and ages.
There are pictures in this book to appeal to all tastes and ages.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Great American Novel Illustrated
I first read "Moby Dick" while preparing/cramming to go grad school at UT Austin. I knew I'd never get through the required reading list of a class I wanted to take if I... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joseph B. Blanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
It grows and grows on you
At first glance, the low-tech art in this massive book seems odd and simplistic, but it soon grows obvious that Matt Kish's interpretation of Melville's novel is nothing short of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Fran
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than I could have expected!
The book made a wonderful gift! It was shipped right on time, and I was very happy with my purchase.
Published 4 months ago by Rachel Achor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful, beautiful art
The art in this book is confusing, vast, and varied; at times it's hard to match this book to Moby-Dick, but when you do, man is it ever mindblowing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by James
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!
Such a project of love! Magnificently illustrated and thoughtful. A perfect gift for fans of the novel or art lovers!
Published 5 months ago by Tina McKim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiration and Awe
It was wonderful to receive this book. It is a book we find ourselves opening and spending time with it daily and is a treasure to have in our art collection. Read more
Published 8 months ago by dierdra fleury
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book to keep forever
This book is amazing, inspiring, and amusing. As a member of the unofficial Moby Dick fan club, I was thrilled with this book. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ailana P. Denison
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
this guy is incredibly gifted. he did an awesome job and the creativity to use scrap pieces of paper to design his product on, was additionally inventive. Read more
Published 12 months ago by anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely beautiful edition
Love the inspired version of this classic. I bought it as a gift and it sits out as a coffee table book. So many people have commented on the beauty of the work.
Published 13 months ago by C. Copeland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome and unique
Kish's visualizations of various lines from Moby-Dick are inventive, unique, and arresting. I was surprised by the impressions they made upon me. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Charles Deremer
