Description
This beautiful, fully illustrated book presents a compendium of artworks throughout history which have been inspired by myth, fantasy and the unreal.
Artists have explored imaginary worlds and fantastical creatures for centuries, expressing the unreal and impossible, the mystical and mythical, via the medium of paint.
But what draws them to the imaginary, the uncharted and the unknown? Is it merely an escape from reality? Or are they seeking a greater understanding of the human experience, or perhaps the very meaning of life itself? With myriad styles and methods of expression, what links artists through the ages? And how have these visual flights of fancy and imagination changed over the course of time?
The Art of Fantasy is a visual sourcebook of all that is fantastical - from fine art to illustration, and from surrealists and symbolists to the creatives working in undefined territories. While the artists in our history books (Blake, Goya, Dali, Magritte, Ernst) first brought fantasy art to the galleries, it was the twentieth century artists who brought it to the masses. It is in this book that, for the first time, they are united and equally weighted, presenting a mesmerising and thoughtful curation of the best fantasy artwork out there.
This is an inspiring collection for fans of myth, magic, fantasy and art history.
About the Author
S. Elizabeth (aka Mlle Ghoul) is a writer, curator, and frill-seeker. Her essays and interviews focusing on esoteric art have appeared in Haute Macabre, Coilhouse, Dirge Magazine, Death & The Maiden, and her occulture blog Unquiet Things, which intersects music, fashion, horror, perfume, and grief. She is the co-creator of The Occult Activity Book Vol 1 and 2 and the author of The Art of the Occult (2020) and The Art of Darkness (2022).
Reviews
"Profusely illustrated with museum quality, full color artwork, The Art of Fantasy: A Visual Sourcebook of All That is Unreal is an impressively informative and truly inspiring collection." * Midwest Book Review *
"The Art of Fantasy is an absolute winner, a beautiful curation of fantastic art which brings together the mythical and modern, the beautiful and the scary, and the revelatory with the damning...I can't wait to see what S. Elizabeth brings us next!" * Juli Witte, A Universe In Words *
"This is an excellent publication for those who run with the creatures of our dreams and play in the wonderlands of our imaginations."
* San Francisco Book Review *Book Information
ISBN 9780711279957
Author S. Elizabeth
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Frances Lincoln
Publisher Quarto Publishing PLC
Series Art in the Margins
Weight(grams) 800g
