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Lise Malinovsky (1957)

Born in 1957, Lise Malinovsky received her education first at the School of Applied Arts and then at the Academy of Fine Arts. As early as 1982, while still a student at the Academy, she made her mark with her virtuosic pastiches at Charlottenborg’s Spring Exhibition. Here, she showcased her grounding in both fauvism and art history dating back to the Baroque period. While her works were not as wild as those of her contemporaries, there is – and still is to this day – a vibrant vitality and expressiveness in her spontaneous expression, especially through her bold colors and gestural brushstrokes. Lise Malinovsky’s artistic language is sensual and tactile, and while she has a clear message for the viewer, the subject is subordinate to her urge to express herself through painting. She has created a wide range of decorations and has also painted portraits, including that of former Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. Lise Malinovsky resides and works in both Denmark and Spain, constantly infusing her art with enigmatic complexity and linguistic dynamism that captivates viewers.

www.ftn-books.com has now the Willy Scvhoots publication on Malinovsky available.

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Aline Thomassen and Dior

While the following may seem like a promotion for the renowned KUNSTMUSEUM, rest assured that it is not. After spending over 45 years frequenting exhibitions at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Haags Gemeentmuseum, and Kunstmuseum, I can confidently state that this visit ranks among the top five experiences I have had at the museum, both professionally and as an art enthusiast. The current Thomassen exhibition is a true masterpiece, showcasing impressive works by the talented artist who recently received the prestigious Ouborg prize. And with the DIOR exhibition, the museum cements its place among the top institutions that have a keen appreciation for the history of fashion. Kudos to Margriet Schavemaker and Madelief Hohé for successfully transforming the museum rooms into a place fit for DIOR. As you exit the exhibition, prepare to be in awe. Make your way to the projectenzaal, where the stunning and colossal works by Aline Thomassen, the recipient of the Ouborg prize, are on display. While there may not be many of them, these 16 remarkable pieces are sure to leave a lasting impression. If this is the direction in which the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag (yes, I hope they will eventually drop the KUNSTMUSEUM name) is headed, I am confident that its international reputation will soar even higher. Not because of the name’s accessibility for non-Dutch speakers, but because of the unparalleled quality of its exhibitions.

For more books on Thomassen and fashion please visit www.ftn-books.com

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Crouwel poster reminder

Just to celebrate our new location a short reminder. FTN books & ARt has still a great se3lection of original Wim Crouwel material for sale. Among the items for sale are the impressive Stedelijk Museum posters he designde for the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in the 60’s and 70’s. Because we are glad that moving to Oegstgeest is finished you can buy these with a 10% discount in the coming week using code : Oegst10Crouw.

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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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FTN books has moved to Oegstgeest

It took us over 3 months to move my inventory to Oegstgeest, but finally, today, i can say that we have moved the complete collection of Flight To Neverland books & collectibles. Some 280 boxes with books and 10 drawers of an architect cabinet filled with posters have now found a new location in Oegstgeest. We did not plan to move for another 5 years or so, because we thoroughly enjoyed our old home, but the opportunity to buy the new location was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A home which will suit us for the coming years. So now it is business as usual and to celebrate this i offer you a discount code until the 6th of January 2025.

Use: MoveOegstgeest

to get an immediate 10% discount at checkout.

Thank you all for your patience and our best regards from OEGSTGEEST