Books published by publisher Prestel

The only work of its kind, this comprehensive and systematic two-volume publication examines 1,400 years of Tibet’s cultural heritage in art and architecture. Focusing on Central and Southern Tibet, these two beautifully illustrated volumes are the product not only of years of scholarship but also, importantly, of the many visits and field research trips the author made over the last twenty-five years. Providing a fundamental work of reference, they include over 1,000 illustrations, most of them recent photographs by the author, and many rare and previously unpublished historical photographs, as well as over 100 architectural plans and drawings. Detailed descriptions and interpretations of the buildings, art, and furnishings of all major monasteries and significant secular buildings, as well as numerous references to both historical Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Chinese texts and to works of scholarly research in the West and in China, make this work a unique source of information for both the specialist and the general reader. This extensive documentation on the sacred art and monuments of Buddhist Tibet also provides a deeply researched history of the cultural and religious circumstances in which the sites and relics were created.

This colorful, lively, and endlessly entertaining book for children looks at artistic illusion showing that art history is rife with tricksters.If seeing is believing, then artists might be the biggest liars of all. Painters, sculptors, and photographers often try to convince their audiences that the paint is wet; the fruit is real; the window is open; the figure’s eyes are following you around the room. This fun and informative book takes young readers on a thematic tour of art as illusion. From the Parthenon through examples from nearly every major movement and culture, vibrant works of art are revealed to contain visual tricks, puns, hidden clues and just plain deceit. Seurat’s pointillism, da Vinci’s mysterious Mona Lisa, Magritte’s playful paintings-within-paintings, and Duane Hanson’s eerily realistic statues are all explored in detail to discuss the techniques, styles, use of perspective and composition that implore us to look at them again and again. Filled with ideas for do-ityourself optical projects, each chapter focuses on a theme such as color, hidden pictures, and surrealism. Designed with the curious eye in mind, this book will introduce young readers to beguiling works of art with fresh insight and a new way of appreciating some of the world’s most important works of art.

Now available in a revised and expanded edition, this book offers the first comprehensive critical examination of one of America's most celebrated living artists. Chuck Close reinvented portraiture almost four decades ago with a series of nine-foot-tall, black-and-white likenesses of himself and fellow artists, which astonished an art world dominated by minimalism and conceptualism. Close has since explored an array of mediums. This lavish, large-format volume is the first to deal with all aspects of Close's career and to place them in a biographical context. Christopher Finch's insight into CLose's achievement comes by way of hundreds of studio visits and thousands of hours of conversation since he met Close in 1968. Finch provides an engaging, in-depth analysis of Close's portraits on canvas, from the continuous-tone airbrushed heads of the 1960s and '70s to the painterly "prismatic grids" of the past two decades. The more than 300 illustrations features in the book survey almost all of CLose's paintings, including his most recent work, together with a selection of his prints and multiples, and examples of his photographic oeuvre. This beautifully designed volume reveals not only the variety of pictorial strategies Close has devised, but the extrordinary personality of the artist behind the work.

This beautiful introduction to art and language features some of the world’s most beloved masterpieces as it entices children to discover art, language, objects, and colors. First pictures, first words―this familiar and time-proven book concept for young children is incorporated brilliantly in this multi-lingual art book. The works of Renoir, Kandinsky, Dürer, Rousseau, Franz Marc, and others are featured in beautiful full-page reproductions. Opposite each image is a word that helps describe the painting―for instance “play,” “bunny,” “horse,” “train.” The words are presented in twelve different languages, each with their phonetic pronunciation. Organized thematically, the book touches on a child’s everyday experience through simple and comforting images that will invite further investigation: What are the men playing with? What does the bunny’s fur feel like? How many teddy bears do you see? Together adults and children can explore great works, planting the seeds for an appreciation of the world’s masterpieces and the words to describe them.

This book offers an innovative view of the art of East Germany that will fascinate art lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Behind the Mask: Artists in the GDR focuses on the wide variety of artistic self-staging in the GDR, between public and private, prescribed collectivism and creative individuality. The intention of the GDR’s official state art was to exert political influence and this resulted in ideological entanglements that have been examined in numerous publications and exhibitions in recent years. Yet how did artists in the GDR critically scrutinize themselves and their own art when their prescribed role was to represent the interests of the state? The pertinent essays and outstanding reproductions in this volume draw a comprehensive picture of art in the GDR from a new and knowledge-enhancing perspective.

Children of all ages will be so utterly absorbed by this collection of artistic illusion, they might not realize they are also learning about great art. With dozens of beautiful reproductions and an engaging, informative text, this children’s book is a fascinating look at artistic illusions through the ages. From mural paintings dating back to Pompeii through examples from nearly every modern movement, Silke Vry reveals how artists fool their audiences with visual tricks, puns, and hidden clues. In addition, she shows kids how to entertain their friends with optical projects they can create at home. For the curious young reader, this compelling book will provide hours of amusement and wonder.

Big art for little hands, this enchanting activity book allows young artists to explore the world's masterpieces on their own terms and with plenty of space to color outside the lines. This delightful coloring book introduces children to one of the world's most celebrated artists, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The French artist was a leading figure in the development of the Impressionist style. Most often focusing on people, his paintings are notable for their vibrant light and saturated color. In characteristic Impressionist style, Renoir created the details of a scene through light touches of color. The warm colors of Renoir's style made his paintings some of the most wellknown and frequently reproduced works in the history of art. Brimming with beautiful illustrations of Renoir’s masterpieces, this engaging activity book will inspire learning and creativity in children, and will encourage young readers to make their own Renoir-like creations.

Certain to provide hours of enlightening entertainment, this sticker book takes children on an adventure through one of the world’s most magical places, the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. With its meandering rooms, tranquil open-air spaces, and spectacular natural setting, the Alhambra palace and fortress complex is a place of great mystery and discovery. This sticker book allows children to experience these qualities, while learning about the structure’s rich architectural past and its significance to the city of Granada. The Alhambra’s nooks and crannies, amazing Lion’s Fountain, and Islamic art are all part of the journey, which each reader can tailor to his or her unique vision. Dozens of stickers provide inspiration for children to create their own fortress―and will pique their curiosity about how history, religion and culture played a role in the development of this architectural wonder.