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During the course of the 19th century, a relatively modern medium entered the private space of Iranian houses of the wealthy and became a popular feature of interior design in Persia. This was print media - lithographed images on paper and postcards - and their subject was European women. These idealised images adorned houses across the country throughout the Qajar period and this trend was particularly fashionable in Isfahan and mural decorations at the entrance gate of the Qaysarieh bazaar. The interest in images of Western women was an unusual bi-product of Iran's early political and cultural encounters with the West. In a world where women were rarely seen in public and, even then, were heavily veiled, the notion of European women dressed in - by Iranian standards - elegant and revealing clothing must have sparked much curiosity and some titillation among well-to-do merchants and aristocrats who felt the need to create some association, however remote, with these alien creatures. The introduction of such images began during the Safavid era in the 17th century with frescoes in royal palaces. This spread to other manifestations in the form of tile work and porcelain in the Qajar era, which became a testament to the popularity of this visual phenomenon among Iran's urban elite in the 19th and early 20th century. Parviz Tanavoli, the prominent Iranian artist and sculptor, here brings together the definitive collection of these unique images. European Women in Persian Houses will be essential for collectors and enthusiasts interested in Iranian art, culture and social history.

As documented in Patsy Pittman Light’s award-winning book, Capturing Nature , Mexican artisan Dionicio Rodríguez arrived in San Antonio in the 1920s and created concrete bus stop shelters, park benches, footbridges, and other structures in the style known as faux bois , or trabajo rústico . Following on the success of that previous work, Light, with photographer and artist Kent Rush, presents a comprehensive look at the legacy of Rodríguez as reflected in the works of those whom he trained, mentored, or influenced. Rodríguez captured nature in his work, but he also continues to capture our imagination. Drawing these artistic creations out of the urban landscape, Artisans of Trabajo Rústico makes the nearly invisible fully visible to the critic, the historian, and especially to the casual viewer. Light asserts that San Antonio has the largest concentration of this art form in the country and includes copious full-color photography of the work of Rodríguez and other artisans. This handsomely illustrated and painstakingly documented work offers the broadest possible panorama for the craft and endearing familiarity of this form. Inspired by nature, built by hand, and placed in the service of the public, these “rustic works” continue to provide enjoyment, convenience, and a touch of artistic elegance to public and private landscapes in San Antonio and beyond. Light and Rush’s work affords a fresh and wide-ranging look at this important artisanal tradition.

The desk is a place of work and of action, but it also serves as a place to exhibit personal things and preferences. Thus it always characterizes in two ways a material and symbolic unity. The desk is not only very informative in itself, but also must always be studied and understood in the context of its cultural, gender-specific, and field-related surroundings. The focus of this study is a comparative analysis of the use of desks. Desks in insurance companies, banks, administrative authorities, call centers, and design studios in twelve countries on all continents were studied. This publication presents the results in the form of extensive visual material, empirical analyses, and critical essays. The study was carried out by the Köln International School of Design (KISD) in collaboration with universities in Hong Kong; New York; Seoul; Taipei; Curitiba, Brazil; Pune, India; Auckland; Milan; and Fukuoka, Japan.

Inspired French luxury for the home. Take a peek inside private upper class homes that reveal why D. Porthault has been the favored French luxury brand for linens and other fabrics for nearly one hundred years. Tour traditional and old-world styles as well as contemporary upmarket decor for younger families. Cheery bedrooms?many with canopy beds and playful wallpaper?flaunt sheets, coverlets, pillows, and shams in gorgeous printed florals. Sweetly decorated nurseries favor blue, pink, and yellow prints. Terry towels show off Porthault's signature scalloped and bound edges. Tables set with cloths, placemats, and napkins feature hand-embroidered, custom designs inspired by nature. Rounding out the Porthault story are some very practical, detailed instructions on washing, drying, pressing, and storing fine linens along with tips for removing stains from natural fabrics. Clothes may make the man, but gorgeous, high-quality sheets make the bed.

Capture stunning macro floral images with this gorgeous guide by acclaimed photographer Harold Davis. You'll learn about different types of flowers, macro equipment basics, and the intricacies of shooting different floral varieties in the field and in the studio. Harold also shows you techniques in the Photoshop darkroom that can be applied to flower photography to help you get the most out of your images. Beautiful and authoritative, this guide to photographing flowers is a must-read for every photographer interested in flower photography. Photographing Flowers will also win a place in the hearts of those who simply love striking floral imagery. Harold Davis is an award-winning professional photographer. He is the best-selling author of more than 30 books, including The Photoshop Darkroom 2: Creative Digital Transformations (Focal Press), Creative Porraits: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Black & White: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press) and Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers (O'Reilly). Harold writes the popular Photoblog 2.0, www.photoblog2.com, and is a regular photography and Photoshop columnist for Photo.net, a photography site with more than one million members. Harold is a popular presenter on a wide range of digital photography and Photoshop topics. His workshops are sought after and often sold out. In addition to writing and photography, Harold has been a software engineer, an enterprise technology consultant, and an Internet company executive. Photographic adventures and assignments have taken him across the Brooks Range, the northernmost mountains in Alaska. He has photographed the World Trade Towers, hanging out of a small plane, followed in the footsteps of Seneca Ray Stoddard, a 19th-century photographer of the Adirondacks, and created human interest photo stories about the residents of Love Canal, an environmental disaster area. Harold is well known for his night photography and experimental ultra-long exposure techniques, use of vibrant, saturated colors in landscape compositions, and beautiful creative floral imagery. He is inspired by the flowers in his garden, hiking in the wilderness, and the work of great artists and photographers including M.C. Escher, Monet, van Gogh, and Edward Weston. Introduction: Why Photograph Flowers; Equipment and Lighting; One World Many Flowers; The Bee's Eye View; Flowers and Sensuality; Flowers in the Digital Darkroom; More About Flowers; Glossary; Index \"In this book Davis offers his knowledge and experience in the art of floral photography, presenting not only the results of his beautiful creations, but explanations of how each photograph was captured: the set up, the equipment and even the camera settings used for each brilliant image. The author takes you beyond the point of capture and discusses processing, both in a lab environment and digital post processing, as well as offers side-trips through history to learn a bit from the masters of art and photography, such as Van Gogh and O'Keeffe. Davis even goes so far as to share affordable and easy use studio setups which he has designed over the years. Using his techniques wonderfully artistic images can be created! For any photographer interested in floral photography - whether amateur or pro - this book will not only tutor them, but will inspire them.\" --San Francisco Book Review

Italienische Innenarchitektur zeichnet sich seit Jahrzehnten durch eine besondere Innovationskraft und Risikobereitschaft aus, nicht nur auf der ästhetischen Ebene, sondern auch bei der Verwendung von neuen Materialien und deren Kombination. Bereitwilliger als anderswo werden hier Einflüsse von Kunst und Design aufgegriffen; die Entwerfenden lassen die Grenzen zwischen diesen Disziplinen mal provokativ, mal subtil verschwimmen. Nicht zuletzt deshalb sind ihre Kreationen für die Ausgestaltung von Restaurants und Geschäften, Privatwohnungen und Hotels, Büros und Museen weltweit gefragt und erweisen sich oftmals als Trendsetter. Das Buch zeigt eine Auswahl neuester Entwürfe, die von 2000 bis 2009 in Italien und anderen Ländern, darunter den USA, Frankreich, Großbritannien, Israel und Dubai, realisiert wurden. Unter den vertretenen Architekten und Gestaltern sind Altmeister wie Renzo Piano, Michele De Lucci und Giorgio Armani, aber auch Vertreter der jungen Generation. Zu den besonderen Merkmalen des Bandes gehört eine umfangreiche Dokumentation durch technische Zeichnungen und Detailfotos.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Gothic and Gothic Revival, or how to distinguish between Baroque and Neoclassical?This guide makes extensive use of photographs to identify and explain the characteristic features of nearly 300 buildings.

Le terme « Art nouveau » désigne un style décoratif et architectural qui se développe dans les années 1880-1890 en Occident. Né en réaction contre les dérives de l’industrialisation et le vide créatif qu’elle entraîne, l’Art nouveau est à l’origine d’une véritable renaissance des arts décoratifs. L’objectif premier est la création d’une nouvelle esthétique de la nature, par un retour à l’étude du motif naturel. Pour ce faire, des artistes tels que Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, Antoni Gaudí, Jan Toorop et William Morris privilégient la recherche technique et la nouveauté des formes.Cette mode n’a eu de cesse, depuis son triomphe lors de l’Exposition universelle de Paris en 1900, d’inspirer les créateurs. Son successeur, l’Art déco, se développera après la première guerre mondiale.

The final book of the Bible, called both Revelation and Apocalypse, prophesises what will happen at the end of time. During the Middle Ages, in a society which deeply believed in God and was mainly ruled by religious authorities, this theme has often been used in art. Its symbolic content allowed for many different interpretations, using various types of support (tapestries, illuminations, sculpture, painting). This book pools the most famous pieces of art inspired by this theme, such as the Apocalypse drapery from Angers Cathedral, the carved tympanum of the Autun Cathedral, and the fresco in Albi Cathedral. The theme of the Apocalypse was a means to impress minds while also allowing artists to develop their imaginations.