“A breathtaking and emotive journey across our planet.” – Outdoor Photography
“van Oosten provides plenty of technical details and anecdotes about how he took his pictures, as well as explanations about the subjects they face.” – Nigel Atherton, Amateur Photographer
An elephant, a waterfall, a tree. For award-winning nature photographer Marsel van Oosten, simplicity is the ultimate form of expression. Through singular subjects and pared-down motifs, he captures the beauty, diversity, and vulnerability of the natural world. This visually stunning volume begins with photographs from Africa before moving through all the continents. The alternations between landscapes and close-ups, colour and black-and white photographs, create a stunning, emotive journey across the planet we call home.
Text in English and German.
How do you portray sin, evil and foolishness in humans? Religious and political tensions and even the weather – we are talking about the depths of the Little Ice Age – contributed to a boom in representations of the Seven Deadly Sins in the Low Countries and immediate surroundings in the long sixteenth century. In this publication, four accessibly written essays highlight different sides of the pictorial tradition of the Seven Deadly Sins, with the renowned print series of the same name designed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder at its centre. A fifth, literary essay describes the feverish visions of one of the victims of a true 16th-century series of murders permeated by the deadly sins.
The work Ratio consists of 117 images featuring the same number of naked men and women photographed from behind. Bram Van Stappen made the series as part of the exhibition Back, organised in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2021. Over six weeks, the photographer set up a field studio and invited visitors to undress and take a place in front of the camera, yet face the opposite direction. Set in a generic surrounding and central composition, evenly lit and tightly cropped, the resultant black-and-white images display a form of (anti)portraiture that seems above all to be a study in paradox.
Leafing through the book, we are confronted with an accumulation of nude backs in different shapes and sizes: male and female, young and old, inked and blank, slender and plump, (a)symmetric, straight, or with hunched shoulders. The head, neck, pelvis, and lower extremities are cut from the image with surgical precision, leaving only the back of the torso, arms, and sometimes part of the hands in view. What remains are pieces of an unidentified body frame, covered by a layer of skin.
Very few people know what it feels like to drive the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupé – aptly nicknamed ‘Gullwing’ – that graces the cover of Iconic Classic Cars. Photographer Kevin van Campenhout has access to some of the rarest classic cars in the world and travels to every corner of the globe to photograph them in carefully selected settings, both natural and urban. Discover a super sleek 1974 Lamborghini Countach Periscope, a Porsche 550 Spyder – the first sports car the brand ever built; a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 – widely believed to be one of the most beautiful cars in the world; and many more. Photographed ‘up close and personal’ in Kevin Van Campenhout’s signature style and expertly described by journalist/car specialist Yan Alexandre Damasiewicz, these rare and classic cars unveil their secrets in this stunning new book.
The 500 Hidden Secrets of Rotterdam is a guide to the city’s hidden gems. It takes you off the beaten track to discover the city’s turbulent history, its modern architecture, its little-known museums, the best restaurants and the coolest clubs.
True locals Saskia Naafs & Guido van Eijck selected 500 addresses and facts about Rotterdam that few people know and presents them in lists of 5, alongside beautiful photographs. Guido and Saskia’s favourite addresses include a former harbour warehouse turned daily fresh market where you can sample a perfect locally roasted coffee or a homemade cider, a bright-red light-vessel ship where you can attend an intimate concert, or a former subtropical swimming paradise where you can grow your own oyster mushrooms.
Kindred Spirits showcases the remarkable flowering of Chinese style ceramics that took place in Japan after the mid-19th century. For over a thousand years, Chinese ceramics have been admired and emulated in Japan. This book discusses for the first time how this artistic relationship evolved during the Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa eras. A selection of 100 works from the acclaimed Shen Zhai Collection demonstrates the range and quality of these ceramics, from elegant celadons to sophisticated underglaze blue porcelains. Detailed descriptions, makers’ marks, and box inscriptions make this a valuable reference resource for collectors and art historians.
In five complementary contributions, recognised authors draw a fascinating and complex picture of contemporary jewellery in the twenty-first century. Through a rich palette of themes, works, reports and concepts from current art practices, they illuminate the conditions and interconnections of education, making, presentation, marketing and networking in design and art using the example of the New Zealand Handshake project. This book will enrich and bring pleasure to all who are interested in the visual arts in their broadest sense! Handshake is a unique mentoring programme in the art world, in which established artists spread their knowledge to less experienced protégés. The knowledge accumulated in this exchange, of a relationship based on feedback, is realised in exhibitions and joint projects. Exhibition at The Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt (NZ), 5.8. to 3.12.2017. www.http://handshakeproject.com/ https://handshake3.com/
Young Rembrandt concentrates on the first ten years of the career of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). Born in Leiden, he trained there with Isaac van Swanenburg and in Amsterdam with Pieter Lastman. After a short stay in Amsterdam he returned to Leiden and set up a studio where he began his extraordinary career, painting scenes from the Bible and classical mythology and history, as well as a handful of genre scenes and portraits. His progress is remarkable: from the earliest hesitant paintings of the Five Senses in about 1624 to the wonderfully assured Jeremiah of 1630 it is almost possible to trace his development and his increasing fluency and self-confidence from month to month and certainly from year to year. Published to accompany exhibitions at the Lakenhal, Leiden from November 2019 to February 2020, then at the Ashmolean Museum from February to June 2020.
Ham explores the world-renowned European ham culture; a fascinating journey from the Spanish Pata Negra to the French Jambon de Bayonne and from the Italian Prosciutto di Parma to the German Schwarzwaldschinken and the Flemish Gandaham. Stefaan Daeninck tells the full story from pig to ham, with meticulous attention to the specific production and maturation processes, as well as the differences in smell, texture, appearance and taste. What’s more, he provides the reader with several delicious recipes, specifically tailored to each kind of ham. Includes additional recipes by Massimo Bottura (chef patron of 3 Michelin starred Osteria Francescana and listed in the top 5 of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards since 2010, winning the award in 2016) and Geert Van Hecke (chef of 3 Michelin starred De Karmeliet in Bruges).
Photographer, stylist and fashion editor Ferry van der Nat has worked for numerous fashion magazine and brands. Under the name Mr Polaroid, Van der Nat began taking strong sculptural polaroids of male models. What started as a personal project evolved into a great collection of images and a celebration of male beauty. Mr Polaroid’s first ever monograph contains over 200 of his best photographs. With contributions by Gert Jonkers (Fantastic Man) and Alan Prada (l’Uomo Vogue).
This inspiring book of 50 fabulous desserts by chef Roger van Damme and his team is the result of 25 years of hard work at the apex of the culinary world. With a passion for innovation that goes beyond the traditional definition of a pastry chef, van Damme transforms seasonal products into new and original confections, and creates inspired combinations. With an international flair, this book takes us from Belgium to Barcelona, Paris, and beyond.
Known today for his atmospheric views of the river Oise, Charles François Daubigny was a pioneer of modern landscape painting and an important precursor of French Impressionism. Although commercially highly successful he was often criticised for his broad, sketch-like handling and unembellished view of nature, and was dubbed the leader of ‘the school of the impression’. As a result he drew the attention of the next generation of artists, among them Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, who were inspired by Daubigny’s frank naturalism, bold compositions and technical innovations. Theirs was an artistic dialogue which spanned thirty years, from the early 1860s to the end of Van Gogh’s short life.
Bruges is a city with a fascinating history. Bruges is a city full of people and stories. Bruges is a city like those in the fairy tales…
Historian Paul Van Damme’s book is an ode to the city, its inhabitants and its heritage. This history book reads like a page-turner: city views act as backdrops for wondrous events, homes and squares become the decors for true stories.
Paul Van Damme proves that historical accuracy and engaging storytelling can go hand in hand. This accessible, intriguing book is an ideal introduction for those who visit Bruges for the first time. But it is also a great read for those who frequent the city; even lifelong residents will find charming stories and anecdotes they may never have heard before.
In After Us The Deluge, Dutch photographer Kadir van Lohuizen, co-founder of the photo agency NOOR Images, shows the consequences of rising sea levels for mankind. He travelled to six different regions in the world (Greenland, US, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, UK, and the Pacific) and captured the effects of global warming. The resulting photo essay is thought-provoking, illuminating, and aesthetically impactful. Each chapter includes a contribution from a local expert that addresses the specific problems in their region.
When does a carpet transcend the category of interior accessory to become art? This well-illustrated book features 200 carpets found in behind-the scenes tours of amazing homes around the world. In thematic chapters, it covers the main international trends, from Ethnic to Art Deco and from Contemporary to Artsy. These dressed-up living spaces provide inspiration for anyone fascinated by stylish living, creative interior design and the myriad possibilities for home decor. In addition, the author provides helpful information on the provenance of materials, quality of design, composition and workmanship possibilities for home decor. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the homes of people with a good taste. Carpets & Rugs is comprehensive and more relevant than ever.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen’s Surrealism collection is world famous, but this Boijmans Study is not devoted to the oeuvres of great names in the canon like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. Instead, it tells the story of the idiosyncratic finds made by the Dutch collectors Laurens Vancrevel and his wife Frida de Jong. Long before museums started to take notice, the couple had collected art and poetry by then relatively unknown Surrealists. Over the years, they let themselves be guided by chance, friendships and random encounters, and this has resulted in a unique collection of Surrealist art from which the museum has been allowed to make a selection. The study examines the 50 artworks that have been gifted and reflects on two approaches to collecting: the creation of a private collection and the way Surrealism was acquired by Dutch museums like Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
This beautifully illustrated book is an ode to art restoration. It takes the secrets of this special profession from the studio and sheds light on its art‐historical and scientific aspects. It zooms in on meticulous restorations of centuries‐old paintings, complex treatments of contemporary works, but also the use of innovative technology for the analysis, treatment and consolidation of works of art in the most diverse materials.
Based on 40 high‐profile restorations, this book takes a look behind the scenes of the art restoration profession. Restorers testify about the challenges of their profession, while collection managers and art professionals delve deeper into the importance and future of restoration. Handled with Care pays tribute to the profession and offers a glimpse into an often hidden world.
With text contributions by, among others, Philippe Van Cauteren, Robert Read, Claire Tillekaerts, Peter De Wilde and about works of art by none other than Peter Paul Rubens, Antoon Van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, Henry van de Velde, Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt, Luc Tuymans etc.
This book is published on the occasion of 10 years of IPARC (International Platform for Art Research and Conservation Ltd).
Text in English and Dutch.
Photographer Jeffrey Van Daele is an internationally renowned nature and animal photographer. This striking and intimate duotone report on African wildlife not only shows us wild animals in their habitat, but also warns that they need this place to survive.
Text in English, French and Dutch.
“For several years I have been retrieving, buying and collecting old photographs, old identity portraits and family photographs from an earlier era. Little by little I started drawing with a Posca felt-tip painting pen, on the originals, initially just for the fun of it and without anything specific in mind. Later on, as I really liked that support, I continued to develop that approach by initiating a dialogue between the illustration and its photographic support. I started masking the faces, moving away from those rather set portraits to introduce a form of mystery, of uncanny. I derive my inspiration both from the effervescence in less affluent neighbourhoods and from the imagery of the sacred or in the tradition of masks in so-called ‘primitive’ societies. The sources merge, creating a universe which I can call mine. The sources merge, creating a universe that is both dream-like and a bit bashed up, inhabited by nice monsters and phantasmagoric creatures.” – Mathieu Van Assche
Text in English and French.
Els Sirejacob and Bram Debaenst take you on their camper van travels through the most beautiful regions of Italy, sharing along the way the most delicious recipes tailored to each destination.
This sequel to Camper Food & Stories is a personal record of the Italian summer road trips of food stylist Els Sirejacob and photographer Bram Debaenst, with absolutely stunning photos of their favourite spots in the Dolomites, the Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Le Marche, Umbria, Abruzzo, Piemonte, Liguria and the Amalfi coast. It’s also an ode to the culinary traditions and the local specialities of the regions where Els and Bram went camping. They selected the tastiest recipes from Italian cuisine that you can prepare in or near your camper van: uncomplicated dishes that simply burst with flavour, made from fresh, local ingredients, like risotto with hazelnut pesto, authentic ragù, pasta al limone, insalata di polpo or coffee zabaglione? Obviously, all these recipes can also be cooked at home, with the added bonus of feeling like you’re on vacation in the land of la dolce vita.
Van Overstraeten is one of the oldest and most exclusive interior design companies in Belgium, started in 1891 and now with a worldwide reputation working with the best architects, interior designers and decorators for private and public projects. In this stunning debut monograph, beautifully presented with all new photography is a selection of more than 40 projects from recent years.
Text in English, French and Dutch.
This well-illustrated book – previously published as Carpets & Rugs (9789401476928) – features 200 carpets found amazing homes around the world. Get inspired and upgrade your own interior with amazing carpets and rugs. In thematic chapters, the book covers the main international trends, from Ethnic to Art Deco and from Contemporary to Artsy. These dressed-up living spaces provide new ideas for anyone fascinated by stylish living, creative interior design and the myriad possibilities for home decor. In addition, the author provides helpful information on the provenance of materials, quality of design, composition and workmanship possibilities for home decor. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the homes of people with a good taste.
The Barrack, 1572–1914 tells the little-known history of a building type that many people used to register as an alien interloper in conventionally built-up areas. The barrack is a mostly lightweight construction, a hybrid between shack, tent, and traditional building. It is a highly efficient structure that sometimes also proves to be extremely durable. Easy to erect and to take down, it is—after the introduction of railways and later motor vehicles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—also easy to transplant from one location to another. Originating as a standardised accommodation in the late 16th century, the barrack became a mass-produced utility of military and civilian mobilization in the 19th century, providing immediate shelter for soldiers as well as for displaced persons, disaster victims, or prisoners. The barrack played a decisive role in shaping the political space of modernity.
Robert Jan van Pelt traces nearly 350 years of barrack history up to 1914. That year, in which the Great War broke out, proved to be a turning point in the perception of the barrack, away from pragmatic emergency shelter and towards sinister forced housing. Richly illustrated with some 250 images, van Pelt’s book records the traditions of barrack design and the technological inventiveness that went into it in the late 19th century.