Secondhand Art Books That Feel Like a Trip to the Museum
The best $4 I have ever spent!
Good morning! Happy Tuesday. I’m excited to share a couple of my recent new-to-me art book finds, which I absolutely love and that help satisfy my near-daily craving for a museum visit!
1. American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum
I picked this up secondhand for just $4 (a bit beat up, but I didn’t mind) and loved it so much that I immediately tracked down another copy to gift a friend. The New York-based American Folk Art Museum is an incredible place to visit if you're in NYC. It's always free and offers a fantastic glimpse into the work of talented artists and artisans from diverse cultural backgrounds, generations, and disciplines whose work you won't necessarily find in other well-known New York City museums and galleries. But, if you can't make it there in person, I highly recommend the next best thing: this book! (And I can’t quite say that emphatically enough!)
Though published in 2001, the photographs are still fantastic. With more than 415 full-color images, this collection beautifully showcases a tremendous variety of folk art, from paintings and works on paper to embroidery, painted furniture, landscapes, signage, and even those everyday objects that are often overlooked but are truly filled with artistry. Each of these unique pieces weaves a lively tale of early America and the incredible craftsmanship of its residents. It also includes a section at the back with brief write-ups about each work for those who want to delve deeper.
The image above is one I am particularly fond of. I am a bit taken with the text, too; it is referred to as a “frothy portrait” and “posed against an imaginary riverscape. Mrs. Keyser is composed of a symphony of curvilinear and triangular abstractions.” Ha! What prose!
I'm a big fan of traditional crafts as they reflect the honest, everyday lives of those who created them. While I also appreciate fine art and the work of trained artists (see the second book in this list), there's something utterly captivating about quilts, rugs, paper puzzles, wooden toys, maps, and other meticulously crafted objects. They showcase the creativity and skill of individuals from all walks of life, and I have much to learn from them. Each time I pick up this book, I discover another gem and tangent to explore further.
2. Masterpieces in Detail: Early Netherlandish Art from van Eyck to Bosch
This is a treasure if you're a fan of the Northern Renaissance like I am. I paid about $35 for it (originally $120), and it’s worth every penny. It features over 40 paintings, presented in astonishing detail, closer than you'd get in person. The author, Till-Holger Borchert, offers a concise overview of each piece, highlighting its historical context and significance. The work is presented through a collection of multiple full-page photographs that highlight standout details, eliciting gasps with every turn of the page.
The pages above are part of the Ghent Altarpiece by van Eyck. (Click here to see the whole work.) Created in the 1430s, it is located in Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Belgium. This detail, the Singing Angels, stands alone at about 5’ wide. I love all their various expressions and bejeweled crowns. The shot above is of page 23, showing a close-up of the “jewels of God’s cloak.” The reflections in each of the jewels truly showcase his mastery of the medium. It’s also interesting to see how culturally significant religious figures were depicted then. As I understand it, in the 15th-century context, the extravagant material splendor was regarded as a form of devotion. The artist, Jan van Eyck, certainly is one of my favorites. I am eager to see his Arnolfini Portrait at the National Gallery in London.
This era of painting fascinates me; it marks the beginning of portraiture as we know it today, along with the emergence of glazes, perspective, and realism. You can trace these innovations artist by artist into the visual language we still see in contemporary exhibitions. I'm especially fond of this book because it draws from collections all over, not just a single museum. It feels like time travel, bound up in a 10-pound tome!
Let me know if you’d like more art book recommendations! And I’d love to hear about your favorites, too.
Just received the copy of American Radiance I ordered (for $16! Old library book ❤️) after seeing your post. It’s brilliant!! So much inspiration. Thank you so much for the recommendation
This is very cool. I'd love to read about what other books have brought you joy or sparked something in your creative journey