FIRST EDITION, Bosch, published, Harry N. Abrams, hardcover, 25.3 cms x 33 cms x 2.6 cms, condition: new.
Oversized coffee-table type book on the 15th century artist Hieronymus Bosch with full color illustrations.
Hieronymus Bosch. Just the name calls up dreamscapes and nightmares at the edge of imagining. His blending of worlds the natural world, the demonic, and the sacred created the most fascinating, bizarre, and mind bending body of work in the history of European art.
From the first time I saw a Bosch print I was enchanted by his powerful vision. I picked this book up about thirty years ago, and have spent untold hours lost in examining the strange and wonderful work within. Getting lost in Bosch is comparable to a psychedelic experience.
The books first section intermingles text with black and white sketches and painting details. Honestly, Ive nothing to say about the text Im always too entranced by the art to pay it much heed. From there, it moves into standard art book format on the right, a full page painting, and on the left text about it. Because so many of Boschs works were large and intricately detailed, often several pages will be devoted to one work, each page focused on a single section. All Boschs most mesmerizing works are here The Last Judgement, The Garden Of Delights, The Temptations of Saint Anthony, The Ship of Fools, Death and the Miser, and so many more.
The physical book itself is of the highest quality. Ive been pouring through its pages for three decades and its still like new. Even its dust jacket still seems store quality.
Anyway, grab this one up if you can. Let Bosch change the shape of your dreams and nightmares.
