Highlights of the Frans Hals Museum presents a richly illustrated selection of 40 masterpieces from the diverse and expansive collection of the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. Spanning six centuries of art, the book highlights works ranging from Old Masters to contemporary installations — including painting, photography, and video art. Both celebrated Dutch artists and internationally renowned names are represented, offering a vivid impression of the museum’s unique character and curatorial vision. Designed as both an introduction and a lasting memento, this compact volume appeals to art lovers, museum visitors, and anyone interested in Dutch cultural heritage. With its accessible bilingual format (Dutch and English), high-quality reproductions, and thoughtful presentation, the book invites readers to discover — or revisit — the stories and treasures held within one of the Netherlands’ most renowned museums.

Text in English and Dutch.

From its headquarters at Špilberk Castle, Brno City Museum documents the history of Brno, from its earliest origins to the present day. Its famously diverse collections encompass more than 400,000 items, including more than 25,000 works of fine art, alongside archaeological and historical artifacts, and materials relating to architecture.

This curated selection of 50 works, each strikingly illustrated, represents the breadth of the institution’s collections in a clear, accessible guide. Four thematic, color-coded chapters celebrate intriguing objects from the Museum’s various collections, from Gallery (blue) to Architecture (green), History (red) to Archaeology (brown). In addition to Špilberk Castle, where its main exhibition rooms are located, the Brno City Museum oversees Villa Tugendhat, Villa Arnold, Villa Wittal and the Měnín Gate, all of which hold further exhibitions.

Brno City Museum: 50 is the inaugural volume in Kulturalis’s vibrant new series – Numbers – which showcases highlights from a collection based on a number chosen to reflect an anniversary or other special significance.

Car Racing 1972 brings together previously unpublished archives from the DPPI agency. It features legendary drivers, leading manufacturers, and photos of the most memorable races of 1972 in France and around the world. Each page is a journey through the history of motorsport, combining rare images and vivid stories. This book will appeal to sports literature enthusiasts and photography lovers alike. Among the books in the series, it stands out for the richness of its narrative and the precision of its visuals.

Text in English and French. 

“When one is tired of London, one is tired of life.” – Samuel Johnson London has long been a center of the literary world. From Shakespeare to Amis, Byron to Blake, Plath, Thomas, Christie and Rowling; many of the greatest names in literature have made this metropolis their home. Writers’ London guides the reader through homes, bookshops, pubs and cemeteries, in search of where literary greats loved and lost, drank and died. Discover the Islington building where Joe Orton was murdered by his lover, the Soho pub where Dylan Thomas left his manuscript, the Chelsea hotel where Oscar Wilde was arrested, and the Bank of England where Kenneth Graham was shot at (and missed) three times. Gathering hundreds of famous and less-well-known anecdotes, this meticulously researched volume will entertain any lover of literature. Also in the series: Vinyl London ISBN 9781788840156 Rock ‘n’ Roll London ISBN 9781788840163 Art London ISBN 9781788840385 London Peculiars ISBN 9781851499182

The wee folk have returned! Uncover the mystery of who they are and why they are here in the first book of the Vinetrope Adventures. Following a young girl, Sara, who has recently lost her mom to cancer, Return of the Vinetropes tells the story of a remarkable fairy-like creature found in Sara’s back yard. Lucinda Vinetrope: born wise, full-grown, and all alone. She may only be 12 inches high, but her personality is huge! Her arrival signifies the return of the Vinetrope nation, but also the return of their evil counterparts, the Chargons and the Vinkali. Joined by a supporting cast of comedic characters, animal and human alike, Sara and Lucinda set off on their quest to find the other Vinetropes and protect their world from danger.

2018 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first international symposium of silver jewelry Jablonec ’68. Thanks to the liberalization endeavours as part of the ‘Prague Spring’, European jewelry artists from East and West came together for a ‘summit’ at the invitation of the Czech artists’ association in Jablonec, northern Bohemia. On the guest list were such renowned names as Anton Cepka, Hermann Junger and Bruno Martinazzi – artists celebrated today as the founders of studio jewelry. The jewelry pieces that developed at that time have remained in the Muzeum skla a bizuterie in Jablonec nad Nisou and to this day have lost nothing of their exceptional and pioneering aura. This publication – which contains a reprint of the original catalogue from 1968 – makes these pieces accessible to a wider audience for the very first time. A document that in a wholly authentic way allows the reader to experience this unique historical moment in the history of the international studio jewelry scene.

Text in English and German.

Accompanies the exhibition at Die Neue Sammlung The Design Museum, Munich (DE), 10 March-3 June 2018.

Hugely popular in his own day and an enormous influence on Monet, van Gogh and other leading European artists, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 1858) has never lost his appeal. A prolific artist, he produced between 4,000 and 5,000 woodblock print designs. He is particularly renowned for his landscape prints, which are among the most frequently reproduced of all Japanese art in both Japan and the West. Hiroshige’s unusual compositions, humorous depictions of people involved in everyday activities and masterly expression of weather, light and season, are explored in this publication with its especially fine printing and experts’ notations. It is part of a series featuring the depth of the Japanese art holdings at the Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford, the world’s first university art museum. The gems of information are numerous, including a page on “how to read a print” — with such as a note on “the censor’s mark,” a detail that only the cognoscenti might recognize. The book adds greatly to the art lover’s knowledge and pleasure.

Contents:
How to ‘read’ a Japanese Print, Preface, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) Woodblock Print Designer, Making a Japanese Woodblock Print, I Views along the Tokaido, II Views of the Provinces, III Views of Edo, IV Views of Mount Fuji, Further Reading.

“I was walking up the Miami Beach boardwalk to the Fontainebleau Hotel where Sinatra was staying… I just reached out with the letter in my hand and he took it. He opened it, read it… turned to his security men and said, “this kid’s with me.” I never found out what Ava said to him in that letter. From that moment on, I was part of his inner circle.” – Terry O’Neill

From The Beatles to the Rolling Stones, Terry O’Neill fast became the photographer of the 1960s. Having an eye – and ear – for music and musicians, he instinctively knew what bands to focus on. And they in turn trusted him. “I remember sitting in a pub with the Beatles and the Stones. We were just hanging-out and talking about what we’d do next, after all of this was over. By this, we meant the fame, being the ‘new kids of the moment’. Usually, this sort of celebrity doesn’t last. Little did we know that 60 years later, we’d still be at it.” Music lead O’Neill to Hollywood and working with stars resulted not only in to memorable moments but long-lasting friendships. He traveled with Frank Sinatra. Took Raquel Welch to the beach. Went in the ring with Ali. Put The Who in a cage.

O’Neill captured many of the most unforgettable faces from the frontline of fame, and his photographs exude his own brand of serene simplicity, intimate behind-the-scene moments and the rare quality of trust between photographer and subject. The list of people Terry O’Neill has worked with over the past 60 years is a Who’s Who in celebrity; from film to music, sports to politics. Terry O’Neill: Every Picture Tells a Story is like going through a walking tour of memory by a man who has seen, met and photographed them all. Also available by Terry O’Neill: Terry O’Neill’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Album ISBN 9781851497720 Terry O’Neill ISBN 9781851496921 Two Days That Rocked The World ISBN 9781851498062 Breaking Stones ISBN 9781851498161

“In the beginning, there was tagging and writing on the walls.” From Style Writing to Art is the first anthology of Street Art ever published worldwide. Magda Danysz, the internationally renowned Street Art gallerist, guides the reader on this immersive journey into the heart of the most interesting artistic movement at the turn of the century. This book grapples with Style Writing, Graffiti, and Street Art. It focuses on the fascinating emergence of the movement amongst the graffiti pioneers of the 1960s, their first appearance in galleries in the 1980s, right up to the cutting-edge works made by the Street Artists of today. Spanning over four decades, the book is divided into three sections with each containing detailed accounts of the surfacing of different styles and techniques. Each period is complete with extensive biographies and analysis covering 50 legendary artists including Seen, JR, Miss Van, JonOne, Shepard Fairey, Quik, Blade, Doze Green, and Keith Haring. “Let me repeat myself,” Danysz writes, “if only for the sceptic eye, for the blind and lost or for the latecomers who ve simply just missed the boat: I believe this type of urban art to be the most important artistic movement at the turn of the century.”

From the author of the best-selling Famous Japanese Swordsmen: The Warring States comes more solid sword history in the guise of thrilling narrative. The Two Courts Period was a turning point in Japan’s medieval era – a time when an unbridgeable rift appeared in the fragile fabric of Japanese feudal society. On each side stood a separate imperial court, each with its own army and its own agenda. As the schism deepened and the positions hardened, every warrior faced the terrible choice between loyalty and friendship. Two such men were Nennami Okuyama Jion and Chûjô Hyôgo no Kami Nagahide. Jion, an impoverished warrior monk who had lost his father through the treachery of a Bakufu official, joined the side of the loyalists, the forces fighting on behalf of the Southern Court. Nagahide, whose ancestors had stood at the cradle of feudal society and had risen to high rank within the Bakufu, was bound by duty to the Northern Court. Their stories, set against the greater historical backdrop of ruthless political intrigue and vast military campaigns, tell of loyalty, of betrayal, and of seemingly insurmountable setbacks; they describe the tragedy of civil war experienced at the personal level.

A remarkable private collection formed over the last thirty years is the focus of this richly illustrated book that introduces the reader to English silver spanning a century and a half from a little before the Tudor age (1485-1603) to the threshold of the Civil War (1642-51). This was a period when England changed out of all recognition. At the beginning it was still essentially a medieval country dominated by an autocratic king and a rich and powerful Church; by the end of the period the Church had lost virtually all of its power and, with the execution of Charles I in 1649, the monarchy itself was abolished. To a degree, this changing world is mirrored in the styles represented by the silver featuring in the collection. Besides setting the silver against its social and historical background the book examines the wide range of techniques used by silversmiths at the time to shape and adorn silver objects.

Be NY is an original city guide about the most intriguing city in the world, and also a manual that quickly and simply teaches you how to be a New Yorker. Discover together with Patrick van Rosendaal the life, preferences and habits of 24 colorful New Yorkers. They happily share their experiences and give you a unique look, from a different perspective, on life in the city. What are their favorite places to enjoy art, culture or tasty food? Where do they go for some peace and quiet, or to have a good time? Which bars do they frequent, and where should you go for the best cup of coffee? Which museums are trendy, and which galleries are up and coming? Where can you find the best deals, and which shops are absolute musts? Patrick’s stories, knowledge and tips are the ultimate preparation for your adventure in The Big Apple.

The career of Y.G. Srimati – classical singer, musician, dancer and painter – represents a continuum in which each of these skills and experiences merged, influencing and pollinating each other.

Born in Mysore in 1926, Srimati was part of the generation much influenced by the rediscovery of a classical Sanskrit legacy devoted to the visual arts. Soon swept up in the nationalist movement for an independent India, she was deeply moved by the time she spent with Mahatma Gandhi. For the young Srimati, the explicit referencing of the past and of religious subjects came together in an unparalleled way, driven by the conscious striving for an indigenous agenda. This experience gave form and meaning to her art, and largely defined her style.

As John Guy demonstrates in this sumptuous volume, as a painter of the mid and late twentieth century, Y.G. Srimati embodied a traditionalist position, steadfast in her vision of an Indian style, one which resonated with those who knew India best.

Covering eight classical dance forms of India – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Sattriya – Leela Venkataraman seamlessly weaves together a historical perspective with the contemporary scenario. Stripped of their association with the temple and the court, classical dance traditions in India went through a series of unprecedented change in the period marking the last few years of British rule and thereafter. From becoming part of the nationalist struggle when India was trying to rediscover its lost identity, to sharing the international stage today with dance forms from all over the world, the last sixty-six years have seen many changes in perspective and presentation of Indian Classical Dance – some intentional, others involuntary. While looking at these years closely and their impact on dance forms, one realises that this is a phase in an ongoing process, with each new generation of dancers and musicians adding to an already rich tapestry of tradition.

This volume reveals the roles of foreign and Indian Jews in the Indian national art project and raises issues such as: Is an “Indian artist” any artist born into an Indian family? What role can foreigners and members of Indian minority groups play in the Indian National Art Project as scholars, critics, or artists? Is a piece of work “Indian art” because of its subject matter or its style? Is it possible to utilize “foreign techniques” in creating “Indian art”? Jews and the Indian National Art Project documents the work of artists such as Anna Molka Ahmed, Mirra Alfassa (The Mother), Siona Benjamin, Carmel Berkson, and Fredda Brilliant as well as those of photographers (David Mordecai and Man Ray) and architects (Otto Königsberger, Moshe Safdie). Also covered in this volume are the work of critics, scholars and art patrons like Ernst Cohn-Wiener, Charles Fabri, Stella Kramrisch, and Marion Harry Spielmann.

This work is the first full-length narration of the extraordinary life, immense literary output, manifold philosophical perspectives of Kumarajiva and his development of a new translation methodology. All his works, both extant and lost, are detailed. The author discusses at length Kumarajiva’s texts that became the foundation of sects and philosophical systems in East Asia.

Around a hundred illustrations of murals and scrolls vividly portray the ambience of Kucha, Kumarajiva’s homeland. The book also includes a write-up by President Daisaku Ikeda, whose devotion to the unparalleled monk-translator adds to the deep understanding of the mind and message of Kumarajiva. President Ikeda discusses Kumarajiva’s new systematization of terminology to bring greater clarity to Buddhist thought and practice.

In interpreting the philosophy and message of Rabindranath Tagore, the book interprets the Indian ideal of philosophy, religion, and art, of which his work is the outcome and expression. It is not known whether it is Rabindranath’s own heart or the heart of India that is beating here. In his work, India finds the lost word she was seeking. The familiar truths of Indian philosophy and religion, the value of which it has become fashionable to belittle even in the land of their birth, are here handled with such rare reverence and deep feeling that they seem to be almost new. Dr Radhakrishnan’s acquaintance with the soul of India, from which Rabindranath draws his inspiration, has helped him in this expository work.

Contents: Introduction; Preface to First Edition; Chapter 1-The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore-I; Chapter II -The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore-II; Chapter III – Poetry and Philosophy; Chapter IV -The Message of Rabindranath Tagore to India; Chapter V -The Message of Rabindranath Tagore to the World.

Notorious as a refuge for the eccentric, the eclectic, and the creative, the Hotel Chelsea has been home to some of the great and unconventional writers, musicians, artists, and actors of the past century, including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Charles Bukowski, and Allen Ginsburg, to name just a few. When the hotel was sold and closed for full renovations in August 2011, American photographer Victoria Cohen was invited to capture and document the essence of the building’s original interior before it’s imminent demise. Cohen’s photographs of these hallways, lobbies, and rooms, once beaming with life and vision, now bare and aged, illuminate a bohemian era that once was, speaking untold truths of a lost time. Absolutely fascinating and bittersweet, Hotel Chelsea casts the historic landmark through the lens of the twenty-first century, exhibiting it as it has never been seen before, and will never be seen again.

This catalog assembles sumptuous photographs of the world’s leading collection of Cham sculpture, along with the most recent insights of Vietnamese and international scholars. The Champa culture thrived in magnificent temples, sculpture, dance and music along the central and southern coast of today’s Vietnam from the 5th to the 18th century. A focused exploration here uncovers this brilliant yet almost lost culture to newcomers and experts alike. The Danang Museum has been recently expanded and refurbished to house what is generally considered the world’s greatest collection of Cham Art.