Taschen

This is the bible of breakthroughs and inspiration in the design of the 20th century. Poised at the start of the 21st century, we can see clearly that the previous century was marked by momentous changes in the field of design. Aesthetics entered into everyday life with often staggering results. Our homes and workplaces turned into veritable galleries of style and innovation. From furniture to graphics, it's all here — the work of artists who have shaped and recreated the modern world with a dizzying variety of materials. From the organic to the geometric, from Art Deco, through to Pop and High-Tech, this book contains all the great names — Bernhard Bertoia, De Stijl, Dieter Rams, Philippe Starck, Charles and Ray Eames, to name only a very few. This essential book is a comprehensive journey through the shapes and colors, forms and functions of design history in the 20th century. This title offers an A-Z of designers and design schools, which builds into a complete picture of contemporary living. Lavishly illustrated, this is design in the fullest sense.

For anyone who worships the male body or wants to know why others do (TASCHEN's 25th anniversary special edition) While the female nude has long played a concpicuous role in western iconography, the male nude has not always enjoyed such adoration. This collection provides an overdue review of material that at one time could only be bought under the counter, beginning with the anonymous erotica of the 19th century. It features the pioneer homoerotic nude photographs of Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden, posing nude youths in classical postures at Taormina in Sicily. It includes illustrations from groundbreaking magazines such as Physique Pictorial, the leading organ of the mid-50s gay scene, and it covers the entire range from classic masters of male nude photography, such as Herbert List, George Platt Lynes or Robert Mapplethorpe, to the pin-up beefcake of the sex magazines.

Picture this: emergent styles in illustration. Today[trademark]'s most exciting illustrators, from A to Z. The Illustration Now! series continually brings you groundbreaking work by the world's most exciting illustrators. A fascinating mix of established master draftsmen and neophytes, working in a vast range of techniques, Illustration Now! Vol. 3 features more than 100 illustrators from 30 countries, including information about their career paths, and lists of selected exhibitions. Also included is an introduction by specialist Steven Heller on current trends in the field. This book is perfect for graphic artists, creative professionals and illustration students, as well as anyone with an appreciation for draftsmanship and visual language.

Tuscan treasures. Gorgeous homes in the Italian countryside. Under the burning Tuscan sun roll marvelous hills, vineyards, olive groves — all postcard-perfect landscapes nestling medieval towns, rural villas, and contadino farmhouses, endless niches of dreamy dwellings exuding all the charm for which the region is revered. We've tracked down the best examples of such havens — from the typical to the surprising — to paint a warm-hued picture of the look and feel of Tuscan living. Inspiration abounds from these pages of achingly beautiful homes; who knows — maybe you can bring the magic of Tuscany to your corner of the world.

There's no question — photography is the medium of our age. Despite all the competition from various (especially flickering) media — the «great still» (Norbert Bolz) remains in first place. Not only when it's a matter of the visual arts. On the market as well — in galleries and auction houses — the «fine art print» is well established, with photographic prints being seen as works of art and thus as investments. If you are going to talk, argue, negotiate about photography, you need sound data and facts — not least on the artists behind the works. Information that is succinct and authoritative, clear and factual forms the basis of this new book. Yet the title quite intentionally bridges two worlds, for the book is both a lexicon and a volume of prints, a useful reference book and a feast for the eyes. The aim is to provide those interested in photography with reliable information in a convenient form that they can also browse, rummage through, «surf» freely, a book that will surprise and inspire. It’s clear structure, alphabetical order, and fact-rich entries relate to the idea of an encyclopedia. But completeness, however defined — something in any case unattainable — was never the intention. The book's strength lies in its precise selection, in its restriction to a sort of pantheon. Thus the photographers to be found in these pages are those whose contribution to the culture of the photographic image is beyond question, whose work is internationally recognized, presented and discussed — even if controversial. Those included are mostly photographers from Europe and the United States. African and Latin American photographers are alsoprominently represented, as are those from Japan, whose photo scene is gaining international respect. Taken together, this selection provides a history of photography in the 20'th century through succinct biographies of artists whose works reflect an eventful century.

When photographer Howard Huang began shopping his fashion book around New York in 2002 he had no idea he was about to become the master of urban photography. Back then, Huang, originating from Taiwan, thought «urban girls» were just women who lived in the city, explaining, «English is my second language; I was still learning.» Nonetheless, when the editor of Black Men magazine asked if he knew how to shoot sexy women he said, «Sure!» and set about staging the magazine’s voluptuous singers, models, and actresses in fantasies inspired by his love of comic books and anime.

In 1966, during a brief stint as a receptionist for Town and Country magazine, Linda Eastman snagged a press pass to a very exclusive promotional event for the Rolling Stones aboard a yacht on the Hudson River; her fresh, candid photographs of the band were far superior to the formal shots made by the band`s official photographer, and she was instantly on the way to making a name for herself as a top rock `n` roll photographer. On May 11, 1968, when her portrait of Eric Clapton was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, she entered the record books as the first woman to have that honor. During her tenure as the leading photographer of the late 1960s` musical scene, she captured many of rock`s most important musicians on film, including Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Doors, and the Grateful Dead. In 1967, Linda went to London to document the «Swinging Sixties,» where she met Paul McCartney at the Bag `o Nails club and...

With the motor industry in turmoil and environmental concerns more pressing than ever, this book highlights the latest cars that promise to challenge our dependency on fossil fuels. Tesla's S offers an alternative to the traditional luxury sports sedan, Chevrolet's Volt could leap-frog Toyota and Honda's trailblazing hybrids, Smart goes zero-emission, while electric cars from Renault and Nissan are bringing up the rear. The book's scope is global, examining Indian company Tata's affordable Nano, supercars developed in Morocco, home-grown people's cars in Iran, Saab's reinvention at the hands of Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg, Hummer's new Chinese future, and the demise of legendary brands like Pontiac. Can Jaguar roar back under new ownership? Will Rolls-Royce overtake Bentley with its new entry-level model? How is Europe reacting to newly-introduced Infiniti and Cadillac models? What is Fiat planning at Chrysler? Written to satisfy autophiles without confusing learner drivers, this unparalleled guide to today's most stylish, innovative and intriguing automobiles also looks at the companies pushing the frontiers of design, value, and technology. Featuring a chapter on every manufacturer of note and their most desirable models, with hundreds of original photographs and illustrations, as well as interviews with designers and entrepreneurs at the forefront of change, and special features exploring street culture, it demystifies the rapidly evolving world of motoring for discerning drivers. Whether you're looking for an off-road workhorse or a limousine, an electric urban runabout or an exotic supercar, if it's on the road and worth a spin it's in this book.

The mobile revolution Find out how to make the most of it This guide focuses on what is a must for all brands if they are to be leaders in the future: being mobile. From applications for mobile devices, such as phones and tablets, to mobile websites, the book includes over 80 stories of how each has cracked into the newest market on the internet, where users are connected 24/7. The five chapters-Games, m-commerce, Promotional, Social, and Utilities-include the likes of Angry Birds, Jamie's 20 Minute Meals, Stephen Fry's myFry app, Flipboard, TweetDeck, Instagram, Adobe Ideas, BBC News, and SAS Survival Guide. This book is a must for anyone willing to understand the world of mobile and connectivity: the two ingredients at the very core of communication these days. Jumping on the mobile bandwagon has enabled numerous companies to prosper and discover new markets. Introduced by Ralph Simon («the Father of the Ring Tone»), this book is particularly aimed at designers, advertising and communication professionals, product managers, and interactive agencies, but will also be of interest to anyone curious about exploiting the mobile experience.

This title presents the complete works of Pedro Almodovar: a personal journey with one of contemporary cinema's the most esteemed film artists, made with Almodovar's collaboration and with full access to his archives. Un film de Almodovar: whether appearing in his stylish opening credits or on the suggestive poster that invariably accompanies each of his films, this announcement triggers a range of expectations. Sexy and subversive, colorful and controversial, passionate and provocative, Pedro Almodovar's world is unlike any other director's. Thanks to his remarkably cohesive and consistent oeuvre, the Manchegan maverick has become a reliable brand, his name a byword for the visual opulence, experimentation and eroticism of post-Franco Spanish cinema. Almodovar found fame with self-penned, gender-bending plots depicting the often comic misfortunes of junkies, nuns, housewives, whores, transvestites and transsexuals. Praised by critics, championed by fellow film-makers, adored by actors and adorned with international awards, he is the most successful Spanish film-maker since Luis Bunuel, with films such as «Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown», «All About My Mother», «Talk to Her», and «Volver». A self-taught auteur, Almodovar draws on influences as diverse as Douglas Sirk, Frank Tashlin, Andy Warhol and John Waters. His feature films borrow liberally from, and frequently invert, traditional genres of classic American cinema-including film noir, melodrama and screwball comedy. Yet they remain unmistakably Iberian, rooted predominantly in the director's beloved Madrid, exploring Spanish myths and modernity to the rhythms of bolero-laden soundtracks. Most recently, the enfant terrible of the 1980s arthouse scene has matured into the Academy Award-winning director of «All About My Mother», a film universally acknowledged for its emotional resonance, sophistication and craftsmanship. Almodovar's distinctive, once marginalized world has finally entered the mainstream. For this unprecedented monograph, Pedro Almodovar has given TASCHEN complete access to his archives, including never-before-published images, such as personal photos he took during filming. In addition to writing captions for the photos, Almodovar invited prominent Spanish authors to write introductions to each of his films, and selected many of his own texts to accompany this visual odyssey through his complete works.

Photographer Frederic Chaubin reveals 90 buildings sited in fourteen former Soviet Republics which express what he considers to be the fourth age of Soviet architecture. His poetic pictures reveal an unexpected rebirth of imagination, an unknown burgeoning that took place from 1970 until 1990. Contrary to the 1920s and 1950s, no “school” or main trend emerges here. These buildings represent a chaotic impulse brought about by a decaying system. Their diversity announced the end of the Soviet Union.

This title presents Albertus Seba's curious creatures. This is a most unusual collection of natural specimens. Albertus Seba's «Cabinet of Natural Curiosities» is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665-1736) was unrivaled in his passion. His amazing collection of animals, plants and insects from all around the world gained international fame during his lifetime. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned illustrations of every specimen and arranged the publication of a four-volume catalog — from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds, and butterflies, as well as fantastic beasts, such as a hydra and a dragon. Seba's scenic illustrations, often mixing plants and animals in a single plate, were unusual even for the time. The more peculiar creatures from the collection — some of them now extinct — were as curious in Seba's day as they are today. This reproduction is taken from a rare, hand-colored original. The introduction supplies background information about the fascinating tradition to which Seba's curiosities belonged. This is one of the most prized natural history books of all time.

Our first Ed Fox title, Glamour From the Ground Up, introduced the heir to the peculiar photographic niche long ruled by the great Elmer Batters. California native Fox had not even heard of Batters when he first started photographing women with an emphasis on their feet. In fact, he thought he was the only young man who checked out a woman’s feet before her face, and most of the time couldn’t meet his models’ eyes for fear they’d discern his secret. Then he became the official foot photographer for Leg Show magazine, just months before Batters’ death, and learned of the big shoes he had to fill at the same time he realized there were thousands of men just like himself—except without the talent to capture their passion on film, or as today, in pixels. Since then, Ed Fox has become internationally known for a sensual photographic style that captures every curve of a woman’s body, right down to the tips of her toes. In Ed Fox II he brings us voluptuous new models, arresting locations — many blending the desert landscapes of Southern California with Fox’s passion for automobiles — and fantasies mild to extra spicy, all shot in warm, caressing natural light. And, like Glamour From the Ground Up, Ed Fox II comes with a 60-minute original DVD, bringing the still photos to vibrant life.

Our groundbreaking movies by decade series continues with this new volume dedicated to the most interesting and important films made in the decade since the turn of the millennium. This jam-packed volume, covering a crucial decade characterized by globalization and digitization, covers an inspiringly broad range of titles including «Avatar», «the Bourne trilogy», «Moulin Rouge», «Babel», «Bowling for Columbine», «Borat», «Y tu mama tambien», «City of God», «Mulholland Drive», «Dogville», «Talk to Her», and «No Country for Old Men». It includes film entries such as: synopsis; film stills and production photos; cast/crew listings; trivia; useful information on technical stuff; and, actor and director bios.

Уве Оммер, успешный коммерческий фотограф, живущий между Нью-Йорком и Парижем, сделал себе имя с помощью бескомпромиссных и оригинальных фото, и эта книга — явное тому подтверждение. Для эстета Оммера красота тел чернокожих женщин — воплощение женственности, а его фотографии, сделанные среди африканских пейзажей, — ей дань. О фотографе: Уве Оммер начал интересоваться фотографией еще юношей, и следуя своему увлечению в 1962 году перебирается в Париж, где работает ассистентом фотографа. Через несколько лет открывает свою студию, в основном снимая фэшн и рекламу. Быстро завоевав уважение, Уве начинает выставляться в местных галереях и вскоре выпускает первую книгу, а в последующие годы еще пять. В нашем магазине вы можете так же приобрести его альбом «Do It Yourself».

In a world where products are out as soon as they’re in, where communicating without wires doesn’t come without strings, and even our accessories need accessories, we need simple tools. A book that helps us look inside because we are overloaded outside. There are three reasons why most people, although they have tried, won’t keep a diary: 1. Not every day is very eventful. 2. It actually takes a lot of discipline to write. 3. In retrospect, many find what they have written embarrassing. Keel’s Simple Diary™ offers structure for those who don’t have time to wonder, making it easy to record life’s moments. It gives the pleasure of a quick response and the sense that no matter what’s wrong, more is right. This instant classic is filled with refreshing philosophy and original wisdom. Keel’s Simple Diary™ entertains, helps you focus and keeps you company. «With an addictive design and curious text, this book gives readers the ‘simple tools’ to create unique, memorable daily records without all the heavy lifting of blank journals.» Publishers Weekly, New York

In a world where products are out as soon as they’re in, where communicating without wires doesn’t come without strings, and even our accessories need accessories, we need simple tools. A book that helps us look inside because we are overloaded outside. There are three reasons why most people, although they have tried, won’t keep a diary: 1. Not every day is very eventful. 2. It actually takes a lot of discipline to write. 3. In retrospect, many find what they have written embarrassing. Keel’s Simple Diary™ offers structure for those who don’t have time to wonder, making it easy to record life’s moments. It gives the pleasure of a quick response and the sense that no matter what’s wrong, more is right. This instant classic is filled with refreshing philosophy and original wisdom. Keel’s Simple Diary™ entertains, helps you focus and keeps you company. «With an addictive design and curious text, this book gives readers the ‘simple tools’ to create unique, memorable daily records without all the heavy lifting of blank journals.» Publishers Weekly, New York

In a world where products are out as soon as they’re in, where communicating without wires doesn’t come without strings, and even our accessories need accessories, we need simple tools. A book that helps us look inside because we are overloaded outside. There are the reasons why most people, although they have tried, won’t keep a diary: 1. Not every day is very eventful. 2. It actually takes a lot of discipline to write. 3. In retrospect, many find what they have written embarrassing. Keel’s Simple Diary™ offers structure for those who don’t have time to wonder, making it easy to record life’s moments. It gives the pleasure of a quick response and the sense that no matter what’s wrong, more is right. This instant classic is filled with refreshing philosophy and original wisdom. Keel’s Simple Diary™ entertains, helps you focus and keeps you company. «With an addictive design and curious text, this book gives readers the ‘simple tools’ to create unique, memorable daily records without all the heavy lifting of blank journals.» Publishers Weekly, New York

They've been exciting generations of men, on calendars and covers, as centrefolds or even on playing cards: pin-ups. What started as an exercise in oils was soon taken up in various media — pin-up mascots graced the fuselages of American fighters, and became an essential feature of the male world of garages and barracks. And the age of political correctness hasn't ended their appeal. This book tells the tale of a genre as utterly American as the paintings of Edward Hopper, describing its origins and development in detail and showcasing the most important artists. With over 900 illustrations, «The Great American Pin-Up» is a comprehensive study of the pin-up genre.

This title presents the stories behind history's most extraordinary photographs. It deals with the most important landmarks in the history of photography under the microscope. Photographs have a strange and powerful way of shaping the way we see the world and influencing our perceptions of reality. To demonstrate the unique and profound influence on culture and society that photographs have, Photo Icons puts the most important landmarks in the history of photography under the microscope. Each chapter of this special edition focuses on a single image which is described and analyzed in detail, in aesthetic, historical, and artistic contexts. The book begins with the very first permanent images (Nicephore Niepce's 1827 eight-hour-exposure rooftop picture and Louis Daguerre's famous 1839 street scene) and takes the reader up through the present day, via the avant-garde photography of the 1920s and works such as Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother (1936), Robert Doisneau's Kiss in Front of City Hall (1950), and Martin Parr's New European photography.

One the greatest architectural artists of all time, and certainly the most famous copper engraver of the 18th century, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) is most known for his terrifyingly original series of etchings of labyrinthine and megalomaniac prisons, «Carceri d'Invenzione». In his own day, he was most celebrated for his «Vedute», 137 etchings of ancient and modern Rome; so renowned were these startling and dramatic chiaroscuro images, imbued with Piranesi's romantic feeling for archaeological ruins, that they formed the mental picture of Rome for generations after. Indeed, Piranesi could be said to have shaped a whole strain of contemporary architecture, as well as the wider visualization of antiquity itself. In our time, he has had a direct influence on writers such as Borges and Kafka and on filmmakers such as Terry Gilliam and Peter Greenaway. Anyone who contemplates Piranesi's etchings will confront the existential nightmare of human existence and its infinite mysteries.

This title covers your favorite flicks. This is our choice of must-see masterpieces. They say that in life, there are winners and there are losers. Though the movies we selected for this two-volume collection are winners indeed, those that didn't make the cut aren't losers. We just didn't like them quite as much. It was a tough, soul-searching process, but after much debate and deliberation Taschen settled on what we believe to be the 100 finest examples of 20th century filmmaking. From horror to romance, noir to slapstick, adventure to tragedy, epic to musical, western to new wave, all genres are represented in this wide-ranging and devilishly fun compendium. «Metropolis»? Check. «Modern Times»? Yep. «Citizen Kane», «The Seven Samurai»? Of course. «La dolce vita», «Psycho», «A Clockwork Orange»? You bet. Plus «The Godfather», «Annie Hall», «Blue Velvet», «Pulp Fiction»... and so many more cinematic gems including lesser-known masterpieces like Bunuel's «The Young and the Damned». Think of this collection as a celebration of contrasts, an homage to the seventh art, a gathering of greats, and a nostalgic romp through celluloid history. Chronological entries each include a synopsis, cast/crew listings, technical information, actor/director bios, trivia, and lists of awards, as well as film stills, production photos, and the original poster for each film. The chapter for each decade begins with an introduction exploring the historical and social context of films made in that era.

Barbara and Rene Stoeltie bring you yet another excursion to the best of the worlds country homes — this time to the mythical land of Greece. Go island hopping with the Stoelties and discover the best of Greece's hidden treats, such as the hilltop vacation house of Robert Browning, descendent of the English poet, in Hydra; a stunning 18th century Turkish-Greek palace — the former residence of a Turkish governor, now inhabited by a farmer and his family on the Argo-Saronic Islands; and the cozy, romantic home of Onassis' ex-pilot Basile Touloumtzoglou and his wife, Tilly. The magic of Greece's old-world charm drips from the pages of this book, which features 22 homes throughout the country.

This title features colorful interiors from Costa Careyes to the Yucatan Peninsula. Barbara and Rene Stoeltie, the dynamic writer and photographer duo, have struck gold again — this time with a truly breathtaking look at Mexico's most remarkable abodes. The Stoelties have traveled far and wide, from Costa Careyes to the Yucatan Peninsula, seeking out homes to surprise, delight, and inspire you. The contrast between Constructivist architect Luis Barragan's home, a restored 16th century hacienda, and traditional Mayan thatched-roof dwellings is telling of the vibrant palette of textures and hues to be found with the pages of this book. This diverse selection of villas, casitas, haciendas, cabanas, and palapas paints a lively and colorful picture of Mexican style.