The first comprehensive monograph on this leading American contemporary figurative painter

In 1498, with Europe trembling before an Ottoman assault and mortally afraid of what the ominous year 1500 might bring, Albrecht Dürer published his Apocalypse with Pictures, a hallucinatory exploration of the Revelation of St John. Dürer's woodcut technique has never been equalled, and the Apocalypse remains one of the summits of Western art. This edition reproduces all 15 images together with their Bible texts, as well as the frontispiece Dürer added to the second edition.

Frida Kahlo (1907–54) is widely recognised as one of the defining artists of the twentieth century. Her uncompromising vision, self-fashioning and fearless portrayal of the self have all established her as a beloved global icon.

This introduction opens an intimate window into Kahlo’s world, exploring how Mexican traditions, revolutionary ideals and animist cosmovisions shaped her life and work. It traces her journey from Coyoacán, through her travels to the United States and Paris, and back to an adventurous life in Mexico, filled with artistic exchanges, fiestas and corridos, but also chronic illness and suffering. Delving into the many layers of an artist who defied categorisation, this book looks at Kahlo’s constant reimagining of the self as a disabled, mestiza woman, and invites the reader to engage with her legacy in new ways.

A fascinating introduction to the life and work of Henri Matisse, a leading artist of the modern age whose radical and innovative techniques demonstrate his lifelong commitment to celebrating dynamic forms and bold, expressive colour.

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a leading figure in early twentieth-century modern art and one of the most significant colourists of all time. In a prolific career that spanned over half a century, he created a large and diverse body of work, encompassing drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and the decorative arts.

This concise book is a captivating introduction to the life and work of this remarkable artist. It contextualises Matisse’s career from his informal training in Paris to his early study of the impressionists, and the pivotal point when he created his first fauvist painting, marking his singular interest in experimenting with flatness of colour, simple shapes and sinuous loose lines. Highlighting the artist’s revolutionary technique with paper cutouts, which became his chosen medium after ill health confined him to bed and prevented him from painting, this book demonstrates the relentless passion and incredible creative drive of a modern master.

Tracey Emin (b.1963) is one of the most talked about artists in Britain today and arguably also one of the most controversial. Her diaristic works are explicit, unapologetic and raw, offering viewers unflinching explorations of how it is to live in a body and to experience passion, pain, and healing.

This introduction offers a candid look into the life and work of Emin. It explores the events and relationships that influenced her art, including her formative years in Margate and the expressionist painters with whom she has identified across the generations. Bringing together a wide spectrum of her work, this book reveals an artist who confronts the subject of mortality – however wondrous, difficult or shameful – and ultimately celebrates the joy of living.

A compelling introduction to the life and work of William Blake, an exuberant and rebellious personality whose radical vision was deeply concerned with the social, religious and political issues of his age.

William Blake (1757–1827) is renowned today for his eccentric imagination and distinctive style. His poems, prints and paintings — inspired by the visions he claimed to see of angels and demons — reveal a free-thinking radical and a champion of artistic experimentation. His elaborate mythological works directly address the major historical events of his time, including industrialisation, revolution and the transatlantic slave trade, and appeal to modern ideas about liberty and social justice.

This fascinating introduction explores the life and work of Blake. From his early training in draughtsmanship and his pivotal time as an engraver’s apprentice, it traces his incredible career through a selection of extraordinary works, and highlights his lifelong interest in integrating visual art and poetry, which culminated in the experimental printing technique that he used to create his famous illuminated books. An artist dedicated to his work, Blake’s intriguing creative vision, at times both hopeful and apocalyptic, has had a lasting cultural impact that continues to capture the imagination today.

A reference book to Hendrix’s multifaceted practice, including essays on shadows and his walks through Mexico City

Dutch-born artist Jan Hendrix (born 1949) has lived in Mexico City since 1978. Atlas explores nearly 50 years of his graphic work: a cartography composed of images and texts, with illustrations and essays on botany, geography and poetry.