Laura Payne

Sorry Taschen, but you've just been dethroned from being the publisher of my favourite book about Gustav Klimt's artwork. Sure, you outweigh this book by 20-odd pounds (you're tome is by far the weightiest) and you may be more complete (this is only a selection), but the presentation here is by far the most approachable. The author pairs each chosen art piece with a maximum one-page of text, which gives her just enough room to explore some of the painting's major themes without overwhelming the reader. In some cases she also includes an inset image for quick comparison, making her discussion that much more seamless as readers don't hvae to flip throughout the book to find referenced works (a serious annoyance of mine in pretty much every single art book. Even weaving in some alrger comparisons throughout Klimt's oeuvre, the author manages to keep her text concise and readable - a laudable achievement considering the typical rambling that academia encourages and her obvious passion for her subject matter. Besides the simple and accessible layout that initially won me over, it may be her clear lack of boring "professionalism" that kept me engaged with the text. Too many art historians strive to remain aloof from their subject matter in an effort to retain their professionalism, but this often results in dry, unengaging narrative. We as readers come here to learn, but we also come as fans who want to be inspired, so having a more personal tone really sets Payne apart, as we can see and be encouraged by her personal interest in Klimt's work. It almost astrounds me that poeple can be dispassionate about Klimt's work in particular, because so much of his subject matter deals with passion and inspiration, resulting in riotous works of art.… (mais)