Bernard Noël Books

Franta (František Mertl, b. 1930) is an artist celebrated for his compelling canvas works that delve into human relationships. His distinctive subjective approach prioritizes expression over representation, resulting in powerful images that resonate with viewers and inspire self-reflection. Known for both his early figurative and later disfiguration paintings, Franta also excels in sculpture, infusing his expressive aesthetic into three-dimensional forms. His works are displayed in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Musée d’Art Modern in Paris. However, the full significance of Franta's contributions is only beginning to be recognized. This study serves as the first monograph on his art, tracing his journey from the 1960s, when he fled Czechoslovakia to France, to his recent exhibitions in New York and Paris. Franta's artistic pursuit goes beyond mere creation; he seeks human transcendence through each painting. The text by renowned French poet and art historian Bernard Noël illuminates the distinction between fashion and art, guiding readers through the depths of Franta’s work. This book allows us to explore Franta’s 30-year quest for harmony and wholeness in a fragmented world, featuring 109 illustrations, 50 in color, presented in both French and English.

A collection of dramatic panoramic landscapes by a leading Magnum photographer.

Book by Centre national de la photographie (France)

This installation of the Modern Master series surveys the work of Rene Magritte, one of the most enigmatic artists of the 20th century and an important figure in the surrealist movement. He combined the commonplace with the fantastic to become the master of "magic realism." Cloud-filled skies, bowler-hatted men, and oversized household objects are in abundance in the more than 60 full-color reproductions included in this volume.

Many view Henri Matisse as the outstanding painter of the twentiety century, and certainly he is one of the great colorists of all time. This volume, oversized and lavishly illustrated, offers an impressive and eminently accessible introduction to the artist and his work. Nicholas Watkins traces Matisse's career from the Fauve paintings of the 1907 Salon d'Automne to the final flowering of his paper cut-outs, culminating in his masterpiece, the Vence Chapel. Along the way Watkins describes the full range of Matisse's paintings, sculpture, book illustrations, and paper cut-outs with visual sensitivity, a keen knowledge of technique, and, above all, a warmth of style. He is at his most eloquent and perceptive when he pauses to look at specific masterpieces in all their complexity--The Dinner Table, Le Bonheur de vivre, and Luce, calme et volupe, among many others. He also shows us how Matisse responded to the artistic, political, and social events of his day, from Cubism to the two World Wars. The 225 illustrations--nearly 100 of them in color--represent the full richness of Matisse's oeuvre, while maintaining a balance between key works, familiar masterpieces, and rarely reproduced paintings. There are also numerous back-up illustrations of works by predecessors and contemporaries who influenced Matisse. About the Author: Nicholas Watkins is Senior Lecturer in the History of Art at Coventry Polytechnic in England. He is a regular contributor to a number of leading art journals.