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Gillis van Oosten (1916-2005)

Visual artist Gillis of Oosten (1916–2005) spent most of his life in Delft, his birthplace.
In the 1950s, he lived and worked on the French Mediterranean coast, including in Cannes and Menton.
A large portion of his work went to Museum Prinsenhof Delft, some went to family, and now some is also on the market.
Museum Prinsenhof Delft has included a representative cross-section of one hundred works by Van Oosten in its collection, aligning with the pillar of “Delft masters” at the museum.

Gillis of Oosten experimented with various techniques and media during his career, from paintings and drawings to silkscreens and perspex reliefs. His objects display different artistic movements. His work ranges from realistic landscapes and self-portraits to abstract splatter drawings with Indian ink.
In the past, Museum Prinsenhof Delft has held several exhibitions on Van Oosten’s work. Soon, a small selection of his work (including “Harbor of Cannes” from 1954, see photo) will be on permanent display in the tower room of the old city hall on the market square.

www.ftn-books.com has now the 1993 Delft catalog available

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Lucien Clergue (continued)

A few years ago I wrote about the ARTA gallery in Den Haag, where limited edition graphic artworks were sold. In that post, I mentioned the purchase of a Lucien Clergue photograph from the gallery. It was from a series of photographs featuring a nude woman in the Mediterranean sea. The alluring body caught my attention not just because it was one of the first nude photographs offered to me, but also because of its exceptional quality.

At the time, I had no idea that photographs could be produced in limited editions, but upon seeing the stamp, signature, and edition number on the back of the photograph, I realized the reason for its affordability. It was a smart investment, as these photographs are now worth 200 times more and are sought after by photography collectors around the world.

Lucien Clergue (1934-2014) is a renowned photographer from the last century, and his series of naked women in the sea is considered among his best work. I still deeply appreciate this photograph and distinctly remember choosing the perfect copy to add to my collection. Although I no longer have a place to display it, I sometimes consider selling it in the future.

As a full-time antiquarian bookseller, I frequently come across Lucien Clergue publications, which I list for sale on www.ftn-books.com. Each time I do so, I am reminded of this captivating photograph of a woman in the sea by Lucien Clergue.

While there is still a great selection of photographs available for purchase on www.anneclergue.com, I have yet to see my particular photograph anywhere else on the web. Therefore, I would like to share it with you.

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Willem Sandberg must have admired Matisse

As a curator, Sandberg held a deep admiration for Matisse as an artist, and it can be assumed that Sandberg, as an artist himself, must have drawn inspiration from the older master. This is evident in Sandberg’s famous paper cuttings, which were created during a period when he was battling an illness. Matisse himself referred to this technique as “painting with scissors.” Could it be possible that Matisse’s cut-outs were the source of inspiration for Sandberg’s use of modeled torn papers in his book designs? These torn pieces of paper, combined with carefully crafted layouts, resulted in highly personal and iconic publications by Sandberg. While there are certainly differences between the two artists’ works, they both existed during the same artistic period, making it plausible that Matisse’s technique influenced Sandberg’s use of paper.

However, the survival of these two types of artworks has been vastly different. Sandberg’s paper publications, printed on paper, have easily lasted for 50 years or more. On the other hand, Matisse’s fragile cut-outs require restoration in order to preserve them for future generations. In the past 10 years, two significant restoration projects have been undertaken. One of these projects was the restoration of Matisse’s large cut-out composition “La Perruche et la Sirène,” from the collection of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. The other was a project at the Beyeler Museum, in which visitors were able to witness the progress of restoring a large canvas titled “Acanthes.” These restored works are now on display at their respective museums, showcasing the true splendor of Matisse’s art.

These accomplishments serve as a testament to why Matisse is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the last century. To learn more about these two remarkable artists, visit www.ftn-books.com for a selection of publications. www.ftn-books.com recently added the Picasso Matisse publication from the Stedelijk MUseum to its collection

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Franz Ackermann (1963)

Hailing from the year 1963 in Germany, Franz Ackermann currently resides and operates within the bustling cities of Berlin and Miami. His creative pursuits are fueled by the concept of travel as an immersive encounter, coupled with themes of displacement and observation. Through his vibrant and dynamic works, Ackermann skillfully interweaves bursts of saturated colors with layers of overlapping forms, which seamlessly meld with fragments of imagery captured from the multifaceted and ever-changing urban landscape. Delving deeper into the complexities of globalization and the impact of tourism on our society, Ackermann’s artistic explorations continue to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide.

www.ftn-books.com has the Stedelijk Museum catalog now available.

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Stedelijk Museum Classics

About a month ago i took a small stack of books published in the late 40″s/50′ and was struck by the classic beauty of these designs. Timeless and still contemporary. From Left to right:

Sandberg, Sandberg, Sandebrg and Aldo van Eyck

All titles are now available at www.ftn-books.com

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Pedro Zamorano (1953)

Here is what ZAmorano says about his work proces:

The various elements imbue vitality into every nook and cranny of the mystical void, where the sculptor’s touch is depicted as the gentle stroke that gives rise to the metamorphosis into art.

This transformation is not instantaneous; it requires its own internal time and process of maturation. The sculptor’s intense emotions, stemming from their pursuit of materials across the land, now flow within the workshop walls. Materials and concepts converge and converse in a more intimate and tranquil manner. Amidst the enchantment that envelops each moment, the journey towards defining the sculpture commences.

www.ftn-books.com has a nice San Sebastian published book on Zamorano now available.

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Caspar Berger (1965)

Conceptual artist Caspar Berger has a penchant for infusing contemporary issues and the art historical canon into his works. His self-portrait and personal body often serve as the starting point for pieces that delve into themes of freedom, mortality, and political (belief) systems. To bring these ideas to life, Berger employs a diverse range of materials such as bronze, silver, gold, silicone, epoxy, wood, and felt, as well as video and multimedia, or a combination thereof. His body of work is divided into a series of extensive collections, including Skin, Skeleton, Universe, and Spirit.

Skin focuses on the human skin as its point of departure. The skin defines the boundary between the internal body of the individual self and the impersonal external world. In Skeleton, Berger created an exact 3D replica of his own skeleton in 2012, using a CT scan. The concept of our “eternal” identity, one that continues to speak of us even after death, serves as the basis for this series. In Universe, Berger explores the space that humans occupy in social and political situations. Who are we in relation to our physical, social, and political space, and how does our unique identity align with the collective fantasies that shape us? As for Spirit, his most recent ongoing project, Berger delves into the theme of the mindset and life questions that arise from the human condition. Here, the notion of Spirit encompasses not only a superior meaning but also the mental stance individuals can adopt in our social, political, and societal environment.

www.ftn-books.com has the Beelden aan Zee catalog now available

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David Inshaw (1943)

Renowned for his captivating and enigmatic paintings, British artist David Inshaw has been a household name since his breakthrough in 1973. It was then that his masterpiece, The Badminton Game, was showcased at the ICA Summer Studio exhibition in London, instantly garnering widespread recognition and praise. The painting was later acquired by the prestigious Tate Gallery, solidifying Inshaw’s place in the art world.

Over the years, Inshaw’s works from the 1970s, including The Raven, Our days were a joy and our paths through flowers, She did not turn, The Cricket Game, Presentiment, and The River Bank (Ophelia), have continued to captivate audiences and receive critical acclaim. Known for his distinctive blend of enigmatic complexity and linguistic dynamism, Inshaw’s unconventional use of language adds a layer of originality and intrigue to his compositions. His unique vocabulary, combined with his eloquent and professional tone, sets him apart from other artists and further elevates his status as a masterful wordsmith.

Through the use of linguistic recursion, vivid similes, and a steadfast devotion to crafting works that defy explanation, Inshaw’s art is a testament to the power and beauty of enigmatic complexity. Let his art speak for itself as you admire the perplexing and bursting images that he so skillfully creates.

www.ftn-books.com has the Brighton Inshaw title from 1978 now available.

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Antonio Saura (continued)

Antonio Saura (b. 1930 in Huesca, d. 1998 in Cuenca) was a Spanish artist known for his surrealist style. Drawing inspiration from the works of Arp and Tanguy, Saura developed a highly personal approach to his art. His initial experiments with pictorial invention resulted in numerous drawings and paintings featuring a dreamlike, surreal quality.

In the 1950s, Saura was associated with the Surrealist group. Later, he turned to the technique of grattage and, through his gestural style, found his way to a radically abstract, always colorful form of painting rooted in an organic, aleatoric conception.

Using formal, highly specific structural elements, he eventually created the first forms that would evolve into the archetypal model of the female body or the human head, themes that would come to define Saura’s work.

From 1957 to 1960, Saura led the artists’ group El Paso in Madrid. He had his first solo exhibition with Rodolphe Stadler in Paris, followed by shows with Otto van de Loo in Munich and Pierre Matisse in New York. Saura remained essentially independent from the artistic movements and trends of his generation, although his unique style can be seen in the spirit of Velázquez and Goya.

Starting in 1977, he also wrote and designed sets for theater, ballet, and opera. Saura’s work is featured in numerous public collections, including the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the Folkwang Museum in Essen, and the Pinakothek der Moderne.

www.ftn-books.com has some great saura titles available.

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Imi Knoebel (continued)

Imi Knoebel’s minimalist hybrids of painting and sculpture explore relationships between color and structure. Knoebel’s nonrepresentational works innovate on the modernist ideas and styles of Joseph Beuys, Kasimir Malevich, and the Bauhaus; the artist is interested in seriality, spare geometries, reductive color, and the use of industrial materials such as Masonite. Knoebel studied under Beuys at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and under László Moholy-Nagy at the Werkkunstschule Darmstadt; he has exhibited in Berlin, New York, Paris, Zürich, Tokyo, London, Vienna, and Rome. His work belongs in the collections of the Essl Museum, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Museo Reina Sofía, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Modern Art. While Knoebel is best known for his sculptural paintings, his practice also involves drawing, photographyI, projections, and installation. His work has sold for six figures at auction.

www.ftn-books.com has several Knoebel books available.

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