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The Potato Eaters is one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works. The artist himself described it in 1887 as ‘after all the best thing I did’. He completed it in the spring of 1885 while living with his parents in Nuenen after his brother Theo had asked him to paint a ‘masterwork’ for the Paris art market. Van Gogh’s fascination for peasant life led him to choose as his subject a scene of a simple meal by lamplight. He was convinced that ‘there’s life in it’, which was precisely what he was seeking. Bregje Gerritse, a researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, describes in this book how meticulously Van Gogh went about preparing The Potato Eaters. Through his preliminary studies and letters, we get to know an ambitious painter working constantly to improve his skills. We discover the details of his location, make the acquaintance of the figures in the painting and read how his friends and critics responded to a work that Van Gogh wanted so badly to be his artistic breakthrough.

Around 1900, both the ports of Antwerp and New York ranked high in the select group of world ports. The United States on the other side of the Atlantic was starting a period of unprecedented economic growth following the civil war. During a period of 60 years (1873 – 1934) the Red Star Line shipping company carried a million migrants to the new world. The assassination of Tsar alexander II of Russia in 1881 and subsequent anti-Jewish economic legislation resulted in a massive Jewish exodus. The worst pogroms took place in Kyiv, Odessa and Warsaw. Jews fled in large numbers. Flemish artist Eugeen van Mieghem (1875-1930) was an important witness to massive migration through the port of Antwerp. Numerous publications and exhibitions both in the United States and in Europe (the Jewish museums of Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest) turned van Mieghem into the internationally best-known interpreter of European migration to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century.

“Van Mieghem was a fine draftsman and colorist, whose long forgotten work evokes that of Van Gogh and Kathe Kollwitz. Now it seems to be slowly returning to art-world memory.” — (New York Times, 2006)

Vincent van Gogh boarded the last train from The Hague to Hoogeveen on Tuesday, September 11, 1883. He stays there for several weeks, then moves to Nieuw-Amsterdam/Veenoord and visits Zweeloo. The landscape makes a deep impression on him. Everywhere around him he sees landscapes that remind him of the work of his great examples: the Dutch landscape painters of the 17th century, the 19th-century Barbizon School of France and his contemporaries of the Hague School. It inspired him to set to work himself. His period in Drenthe is an important moment in Van Gogh’s development as an artist that ultimately made him world famous. This book sheds new light on perhaps the least known chapter in Van Gogh’s life story.

This publication is dedicated to projects by Marie-José Van Hee – from small interventions and furniture to award-winning outdoor spaces. Nine key projects are examined in detail, while various essays and an interview provide a comprehensive overview of her work. Furthermore, three photographers present Van Hee’s architecture from their personal perspectives, while three clients report on their lives and their impressive houses. The publication is rounded off by a small selection of Van Hee’s “black drawings”, affording insight into contextual relationships between architecture and nature, as well as an updated project list.

New, revised edition of the volume published in Belgium in 2019.

Text in English and German.

This publication is dedicated to projects by Marie-José Van Hee – from small interventions and furniture to award-winning outdoor spaces. Nine key projects are examined in detail, while various essays and an interview provide a comprehensive overview of her work. Furthermore, three photographers present Van Hee’s architecture from their personal perspectives, while three clients report on their lives and their impressive houses. The publication is rounded off by a small selection of Van Hee’s “black drawings”, affording insight into contextual relationships between architecture and nature, as well as an updated project list.

New, revised edition of the volume published in Belgium in 2019.

Text in English and French.

“It’s a fascinating journey, and with pages featuring brilliant images of rubies, emeralds, and Jaipur enamel work, it’s a true feast for the eyes.” Natural Diamonds
Inspired by India
is an exploration of more than six centuries of trade, cultural exchange, and inspiration between India and the West. Through the lens of various material categories, including textiles, fashion, jewellery, and perfume, marvellous stories unfold surrounding the histories of objects and the complex networks of cultural exchange they represent. The book explores how some of the most legendary design houses have looked to Indian culture, decorative arts and artisanal crafts for inspiration. Indian-inspired objects from luxury houses including Hermès, Chanel, Cartier, and Dior are featured, revealing creative and fascinating stories of inspiration and creativity.

The stunning Inspired by India also includes rich visual imagery from leading museum and gallery archives, as well as the archives of the world’s greatest luxury houses and renowned fashion designers, including Dries Van Noten, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano.

In the form of The Glove Deutsches Ledermuseum is tracing the varied cultural history of an accessory whose importance is often underestimated. The sheer diversity of this article of clothing is demonstrated by means of selected exhibits, from warming Inuit mittens, boxing gloves, disposable rubber or latex gloves, and Pontifical gloves, to models by renowned designers such as Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten.
As a love token, a gauntlet in a duel, or as the insignia of royalty, this highly symbolic accessory and firm component of first courtly, then bourgeois etiquette looks back on a longstanding tradition. Gloves, for centuries an indispensable part of any elegant wardrobe, are currently experiencing a comeback.

Text in English and German.

Dieter van Slooten (1940-2018), a German artist, painted his pictures with almost obsessive consistency, using horizontals as a main picture element, which, like venetian blinds, conceal and reveal part of what is concealed to the viewer at the same time, thus hinting at shapes and surfaces. The change from fore- to background is fluid and the pictures, painted predominantly in acrylic on canvas, have an almost three-dimensional depth. An incredible range of colours makes the works appear intensive and poignant, colour is the soul of van Slooten’s painting. This catalogue, with his pictures from the years 2012-17, presents the quintessence of his oeuvre and is being published on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death. His life was dedicated to art; his art is dedicated to life.

Text in English and German.

A selection of 85 Flemish drawings gives an astonishing and representative overview of the art of drawing in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The publication focusses on the drawings subjects and compositions but also on how and why they were created and why an artist chose specific materials, techniques, formats and even sizes. It provides a framework to allow to see drawings in the functional context for which they were created.

Renowned specialists in Flemish drawing discuss rare artworks by famous draughtsmen as Frans Floris, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck, Jacques Jordaens, Otto van Veen, Jan Fijt but also hidden treasures such as the 10 metres long Panorama of Zeeland by Antoon van den Wijngaerde, a sketchbook of the 12-year-old Rubens, recently discovered drawings by Hans Vredeman de Vries, the extremely rare Italy-sketchbooks by the sculptor Pieter Verbruggen and a newly discovered book-illustration design by Rubens for the Plantin Press.

In this book, three famous, late 19th-century artists take centre stage: Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) and Henri Le Fauconnier (1881-1945). They played a crucial role in the genesis of the Bergen School. The works of these great masters are juxtaposed with the oeuvres of the very first Bergen School artists: Leo Gestel, Gerrit Willem van Blaaderen, Else Berg, Mommie Schwarz, Dirk Filarski, Arnout Colnot and the Wiegman brothers. This book paints a new and more nuanced picture of the rise of Expressionism in the Netherlands. Van Gogh, Cézanne, Le Fauconnier & the Bergen School thus represents a valuable addition to the history of Dutch art.

The Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp is a house full of art. The museum today is internationally renowned as the home of the famous Dulle Griet (‘Mad Meg’) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. For the locals living in Antwerp, the museum is above all a well-kept secret. At the same time, there is always amazement that so much beauty could be brought together in one place. Who built this collection?

The museum is housed in an historic building that recalls two individuals, Henriëtte van den Bergh (1838-1920) and Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858-1901). The entire collection was assembled by Fritz, a man with a keen interest in the Medieval Renaissance periods. Following Fritz’s early and unexpected death on 4 May 1901, it was his mother, Henriëtte van den Bergh, who had the museum built to house his art collection. By doing so, she preserved this exceptional collection and at the same time succeeded in keeping alive a memorial to her son. The museum opened its doors in 1904.

This book offers an insight into the history of the museum and its founders. It is based on in-depth research carried out in the archive of Museum Mayer van den Bergh, which among other things contains the rich correspondence between Fritz and Henriëtte as well as an extensive photo collection. Over four chapters, the book explores the personalities behind the collection, their social background and networks, their interests and their modus operandi. More than anything else, this is the story of Henriëtte van den Bergh, the founder of the museum, who died 100 years ago. With her visionary projects, she proved herself not only to be a forceful personality, but also someone with a forward-looking organisational talent and an entrepreneur with an exceptional mission – and all in a period when the involvement of women in public life was anything but the norm.

This affectionate cultural guide celebrates 100 icons that make Belgium different from any other country. In 100 short, informative texts, the author talks about food, people, places, traditions, inventions, buildings, and even expressions, that have shaped what he calls ‘the strangest country in the world’.
The author examines themes that are famously Belgian, like comic books, mussels served with fries, cycle racing, art nouveau architecture and rain. But he also looks at some of the off surprises of Belgian life, including vertical archery, grandmothers’ cooking, pigeon racing and the everyday expression ‘non peut-étre’ (no maybe).
You will find out about the monks who brew the best beer in the world, the largest dinosaur collection ever found, the longest tram ride in the world, the curious charm of ugly Belgian houses, and how a country can survive without a government for more than 500 days.
This book is not meant to be an exhaustive guide to Belgium, but a personal pick of the icons that make Belgium unique, along with a selection of useful addresses to visit. The texts are accompanied by 100 original illustrations by Antwerp illustrator Emma Verhagen that capture the unique sprit of Belgium.
In February 2018, an international jury of experts, having been appointed by the board of the association 100 Beste Plakate e.V. (The 100 Best Posters), met to once again evaluate all entries submitted to the annual competition. It has selected ground-breaking designs from the fields of advertising, corporate design, author graphics and poster design. Thus the outstanding creative achievements of well-established institutions, graphic design firms, ad agencies and of individual students enrolled at German-speaking universities or design schools throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be awarded. The diversity of this medium, which has managed to resist an ever encroaching digitalisation into its field, will be portrayed in this book – showcasing both its value as a means of public announcement and as a visual message bordering on fine art.
Following on from the competition 100 Best Posters 17 will present, in printed form, the prize-winning designs.
Text in English and German.

In 1947 and 1948, Van Johnson was MGM’s top male box office draw. “On screen he was the Pied Piper; Elizabeth Taylor’s lover, he was a war pilot with Spencer Tracy,” writes his friend and decorator Carleton Varney in the introduction for Van Johnson’s Hollywood: A Family Album. Along the way, his wife, Evie Wynn Johnson, an amateur shutterbug captured behind-the-scenes images of their friends some of Hollywood’s most famous stars, such as Gary Cooper, Judy Garland, and Humphrey Bogart on the road, on the set, around the pool, and at their Hollywood home. She put together these casual and candid images in a family album that has never been published before. Their daughter, Schuyler adds her memories to this unique document of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

In the years around 1651, Rembrandts young charges followed him in the turn of his late style, with its concentration, inner emotion, impasto handling, and restrained dynamism.

Around then the young Abraham van Dijck also arrived from Dordrecht to complete his studies. He quickly grasped his master’s new direction, but also developed a gentle and vulnerable alternative to it: exploring the evocation of inner life, with daring experiments in light and handling. Together with fellow pupils Nicolaes Maes, Jacobus Leveck and Cornelis Bisschop, he returned to Dordrecht for a brief and fertile period of painting and drawing. Eventually he succumbed to the siren call of Amsterdam once more.

This is the first comprehensive monograph of his remarkable achievement in drawing and paintings and his distinctive contribution to the art of this period.

Van Gogh’s Irises, painted during his last year of life while residing at Saint Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France. Painting soothed his soul and this one shows the influence of his collection of Japanese wood block/ukiyo-e prints.

Our Mini Notebooks are full colour hardcover pocket sized books featuring bright accents on the edges of the paper. The paper is lightly printed with a dot-grid, perfect for note taking, list making and doodling.

We choose the best images from well-known classic and contemporary fine artists, plus talented emerging illustrators and designers from around the globe.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) had an artistic career lasting only ten years. However, in those years he left behind an astounding legacy of painting that has endured to this day. He was a mad genius and he poured that passion into the trembling energy of his paintings. His canvases are celebrations of humanity & earth, colour & texture.

Send your best wishes with the beautifully reproduced artwork on these full-colour full size Notecard Boxes, packaged in a large format 2 piece glossy reusable box.

The work of Vincent van Gogh is reproduced in full colour as notecards, including reproductions of 5 joyous, bright expressive paintings.

Our museum quality Notecard Boxes are perfect to keep on hand for any occasion notes and greetings to friends and family. 

We choose the best images from well-known classic and contemporary fine artists, plus talented emerging illustrators and designers from around the globe.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) had an artistic career lasting only ten years. However, in those years he left behind an astounding legacy of painting that has endured to this day. He was a mad genius and he poured that passion into the trembling energy of his paintings. His canvases are celebrations of humanity & earth, colour & texture.

Beuningen in Rotterdam’s Museumpark and designed by MVRDV, is the first art depot in the world to be fully accessible to the public. Visitors can see the results of over 170 years of collecting: more than 151,000 objects of art and design, housed in 14 storage spaces, are arranged by material, size, and sometimes chronology or geography. All the activities involved in the management and conservation of a collection are also on view. This is a fascinating account of a unique new type of museum building and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen collection.

This book covers all the phases in its creation, from the first crazy ideas to the last work of art to be rehoused. It takes you on a journey through the building and provides brief glimpses of the storage compartments on each floor. The essays describe the growing collection, its storage conditions over the last 172 years, and the Depot’s design and construction process. We also talked to the designers and artists involved about their contributions to the building.

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, located next door to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam’s Museumpark and designed by MVRDV, is the first art depot in the world to be fully accessible to the public. Visitors can see the result of over 170 years of collecting: more than 151,000 objects of art and design, housed in 14 storage spaces, are arranged by material, size, and sometimes chronology or geography. All the activities involved in the management and conservation of a collection are also on view. This is a fascinating account of a unique new type of museum building and the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen collection.

This book covers all the phases in its creation, from the first crazy ideas to the last work of art to be rehoused. It takes you on a journey through the building and provides brief glimpses of the storage compartments on each floor. The essays describe the growing collection, its storage conditions over the last 172 years, and the Depot’s design and construction process. And includes details of the designers and artists involved about their contributions to the building.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) is undoubtedly one of the most significant and influential architects ever. To the present day, his designs and realised buildings, as well as his thinking and writings, continue to initiate many controversial debates on the achievements and failures of modern architecture. Yet not only architects and urban designers have been inspired or appalled by Mies. This new book demonstrates that his influence reaches far beyond the boundaries of professional architecture. Almost Nothing collects work by 100 painters, sculptors, photographers, film directors, designers, cartoonists, and architects who comment on the buildings, designs, and statements by, or images of, the legendary architect. The works also form a 100-fold re-interpretation of Mies van der Rohe’s life and oeuvre. New York-based architect and writer Christian Bjone in his accompanying text provides rich background information on the individual artists and the depicted art works. The book’s title refers to a statement by Mies himself on one of his celebrated masterpieces, Crown Hall on IIT campus in Chicago, which ingeniously combines simplicity with complexity.

Camiel Van Breedam (°Born 29/06/1936) made his first artworks in 1956: reliefs and small zinc sculptures. Later followed by assemblages, collages, objects, sculptures, environments – exhibited in many places in Belgium and abroad. Influences and inspiration come among others from: his father’s plumber workshop, the region of the river Rupel and the brickyards, Paul Klee, ethnic art, Indians, Joseph Cornell, the Russian avant-garde, Chaïm Soutine, Oskar Schlemmer, Bauhaus, De Stijl, dreams, nightmares and RED.

His social involvement provides the red thread and the binding element.

“When I am working with colours, I feel like a painter. When I am working with metal, I feel like a constructor. And when I am working with toys, I feel like a child.” (Felieke van der Leest).

The work of Dutch jewellery and object artist Felieke van der Leest (born in 1968) expresses the very special affection that she has for animals. With unbridled fantasy she creates pieces that ostentatiously, colourfully and playfully revolve around her little friends. She combines techniques used in textile work, such as crochet, with valuable metals and plastic toy animals. Within the international art jewellery scene she has developed her own special language with which she narrates intelligent and witty stories with her animal protagonists; her pieces inevitably conjure a smile upon the faces of those who view them. Characteristic for Van der Leest is the joy in her work, which is ever present yet sometimes carried off into childhood. Serious themes in her work are also expressed, including environmental protection and human approaches to animals. The current publication comprises jewellery and objects by the renowned artist from 1996 to the present.

Text in English, Norwegian and Dutch.

Paul Gauguin’s Vision of the Sermon (1888), one of the iconic works of the late nineteenth century, continues to provoke profound reassessment and interpretation by art historians, and it is central to this third volume of Van Gogh Studies: Dario Gamboni discusses the painting as a self-reflexive work dealing in visual terms with issues of perception, cognition and representation; Juliet Simpson addresses the art critic Aurier’s contribution to the promotion of Gauguin as the exemplary symbolist artist; while Rodolphe Rapetti examines Emile Bernard’s artistic response to Vision of the Sermon in the context of Rosicrucianism; the Belgian art world’s critical reaction to this and other works by the artist is meticulously described and analysed in Elise Eckermann’s essay; while June Hargrove presents a challenging vision of Gauguin’s portraits of his ‘alter ego’ Meijer de Haan. Other contributions include Sandra Kister’s examination of the way the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen functioned as a role model for the Museé Rodin in Paris; Richard Thomson’s discussion of the diverse ways in which French artists working in the early Third Republic responded to contemporary concepts of ‘la psychologie nouvelle’; and, finally, a fresh view of nineteenth-century illustrations, including caricatures, offered by Patricia Mainardi. Contents:
-The Vision of a vision: Perception, hallucination, and potential images in Gauguin’s Vision of the sermon
-The décor of dreams: Gauguin, Aurier and the symbolists’ vision -From Gauguin to Péladan: Emile Bernard and the first salon of the Rose+Croix -Gauguin’s critical reception in Belgium in 1889 and 1891 -Gauguin’s maverick sage: Meijer de Haan -Museé Rodin: Thorvaldsen as a role model -Seeing Visions, Painting Visions: On psychology and representation under the early Third Republic -Paths forgotten, calls unheard: Illustration, caricature, comics in the 19th century Also Available:
Current Issues in 19th Century Art: Van Gogh Studies, Volume 1 ISBN: 9789040083501 Van Gogh: A Literary Mind: Van Gogh Studies, Volume 2 ISBN: 9789040085628

The general picture we have of older people does not seem to reflect today’s 60-70 year-olds at all. Driven by her own feeling of having a ‘best before’ date, photographer Irene van Nispen Kress examined what it’s really like to be older these days. For six years she followed three older women in the intimacy of their day-to-day lives. With the help of her camera, she provided a glimpse into the lives of women who, because of their age, are usually not in the limelight at all. These powerful images and stories illustrate why the passage of time can be a woman’s greatest asset.

Text in English and Dutch.