CREATOR: Edward Quin
CATEGORY: Maps / Cartography
NOTES: 'The series is unusual in that it utilises aquatint to great effect to illustrate geographical enlightenment by depicting the unknown as black clouds that peel back over succeeding maps to reveal the world as known at various points in time from 'the deluge' until 1828. The work was intended to educate schoolchildren about the history of the world, presenting history as a consistent and uniform whole, giving a rapid view of all great political changes in human society. Of particular note are the maps showing the Garden of Eden and the Discovery of America. The final map depicts the 'End of the General Peace' in 1828.'
CREATOR: Isaac Lichtenstein
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Woodcut illustrations from a Yiddish childrens book.
CREATOR: Design by TOKO
CATEGORY: Design
NOTES: Exceptional use of negative space to communicate.
CREATOR: Merce Cunningham
CATEGORY: Art
NOTES: Beautifully designed book from Walker Art Center. Mostly familiar with Merce because of his association with Black Mountain College. I can't even imagine the drugs during that time... Cunningham, Cage (his partner), The Albers, The de Koonings, Buckminster, Kline, Twombly, Motherwell, Gropius, Raushenberg... Jesus.
AUTHOR: Yuan Bi
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Chinese letterforms - Translated title: 'Qin and Han Dynasty Wadang Pictures'
CREATOR: Various
CATEGORY: Design
NOTES: Another mid-aughts graphic design showcase with a hodge-podge of styles/mediums on display. Some rock stars (Sahre, Sagmeister) and others who are better (Cezzar, Choi).
AUTHOR: Frederick III of Denmark
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Using calligraphic swashes for everything except the portrait of King Frederick the III is a bit odd. Finish it off the same way you started it.
AUTHOR: Chaver-Paver
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Woodcut illustrations from a Yiddish childrens book.
CREATOR: Anni Albers
CATEGORY: Patterns / Motifs
NOTES: Owning a few books of Anni Albers work, this is definitely my favorite and go-to reference.
CREATOR: David West
CATEGORY: Illustration
NOTES: Illustrations for children's look a little different out of context.
AUTHOR: Denis Dodart
CATEGORY: Books / Science
NOTES: Wonderful plant illustrations by engravers Nicolas Robert and Abraham Bosse.
CREATOR: Ludovico Vicentino degli Arrighi
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Influential type designer with work that seems way ahead of his time, emulated by many.
CREATOR: Utamaro Kitagawa
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: 'Each double page of the book contains a painted illustration of a plant and two species of insects, along with two kyōka. The kyōka are ostensibly insect-themed love poems. In all, 15 colored wood-block prints are included'
AUTHOR: Ferdinando Galli Bibiena
CATEGORY: Books / Architecture
NOTES: Full title: 'Civil architecture: prepared on geometry, and reduced to perspectives'
CREATOR: Unknown
CATEGORY: Bookshelves
NOTES: Nice ladder, nice bookshelf, nice space.
CREATOR: Gerry Johansson
CATEGORY: Spotlight / Photography
NOTES: I find Gerry Johansson's photography both morose and energetic, similar to an empty room at the end of a party.
AUTHOR: Heinrich Cornelius
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Good old-fashion occult imagery from the 1500s.
CREATOR: Karel Martens
CATEGORY: Design / Publication
NOTES: Sample of issues of OASE while art directed by Karel Martens.
CREATOR: Luke Stephenson
CATEGORY: Photography
NOTES: Personal (100% biased) ranking of modern domesticated pets: 1. Birds, 2. Cats, 3. Birds, 4. Dogs.
AUTHOR: Manuel Lima
CATEGORY: Data
NOTES: Support what Manuel has done over the years at visualcomplexity.com and buy the book.
CREATOR: Thomas Edward
CATEGORY: Books / Mapping
NOTES: A series of castle diagrams/maps from the middle ages.
CREATOR: William Playfair
CATEGORY: Spotlight / Data
NOTES: Noone's written anything yet.
AUTHOR: J. Hooke
CATEGORY: Books / Astronomy
NOTES: Full title: 'The sacred theory of the earth : containing an account of the original of the earth, and of all the general changes which it hath already undergone, or is to undergo, till the consummation of all things...'
CREATOR: Thomas Wright
CATEGORY: Books / Astronomy
NOTES: Wonderful theoretical astronomy illustrations from the 1700s. Full title: An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe : founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phænomena of the visible creation; and particularly the via lactea
AUTHOR: Ramon Llull
CATEGORY: Books
NOTES: Intersting series of illustrations here along with a set of 4 trees.
CREATOR: Guillermo Kuitca
CATEGORY: Mapping
NOTES: Noone's written anything yet.
CREATOR: Unknown
CATEGORY: Books / Astronomy
NOTES: 'This manuscript with beautifully illuminated margins, by an unknown writer, is an 18th century compendium of works on astronomy and astrology. It contains excerpts of several treatises on astronomy and numerology...'