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Hannah Ryggen

Threads of Defiance
4.48 goodreads logo

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( 23 ratings, 3 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Hannah Ryggen (1894-1970) emerges as a pioneering figure in Scandinavian art through her bold modernist tapestries, which eloquently combine political activism and artistic innovation. Created on a homemade loom in remote Norway, her works vividly address topics from Fascism, Nazism, and war to nuclear power, blending personal insight with social critique. Marit Paasche, an expert on Ryggen, draws on primary sources to illuminate the artistโ€™s life and the broader context of 20th-century art history, offering a rich visual and narrative exploration of a once-overlooked creative force.
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Format: Hardback
$6099
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in modern art, political activism in art, and Scandinavian culture. It also suits art historians, students, and anyone intrigued by how personal and historical contexts shape artistic expression.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The significance of Hannah Ryggen (1894-1970) as one of the most important figures in the history of Scandinavian art has only recently been recognised internationally. Beloved and renowned for her original contributions to modernist tapestry, Ryggen made radical political statements against Fascism and Nazism before and during the Second World War.

Using primary sources, Ryggen expert Marit Paasche brings us a much fuller knowledge of the artist, weaving her life and work into a story that illuminates not only the artist herself, but also 20th-century art history in general. Hannah Ryggen's visually spellbinding tapestries, made on a homemade handloom in her small farm on the remote Norwegian coast, depict a wealth of subjects: Mussolini's Abyssinian campaign, her husband's internment in a Nazi camp in occupied Norway, the post-war growth of nuclear power, and media coverage of the Vietnam War.

At once hard-hitting and humorous, her works combine personal candour, social and political engagement, and visual majesty. Paasche explores both the artist's bold subject matter and particular balance of abstraction and figuration within the context of her life and beliefs. Including a comprehensive selection of works, this book provides an enthralling account of a remarkable, and unjustly overlooked, artist.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

'Sumptuously illustrated โ€ฆ Marit Paasche unfolds her exceptional research into the unique art and passionate, courageous life of the pioneering tapestry-maker and weaver of stories.' โ€“ Times Literary Supplement
'A timely biography of a woman once again regarded as a major artist... Excellent for those interested in art's social commentary.' โ€“ Choice
'Establishes Ryggen as a model of artistic and political engagement.' โ€“ New York Times
'Crackles with Ryggenโ€™s idiosyncratic voice โ€ฆ indispensable to art historians and general readers alike.' โ€“ Woman's Art Journal

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500094099

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 September 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: 122 Illustrations, color

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 165.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 940g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Marit Paasche is an art historian and former head of research at the Norwegian Video Art Archive. She now works as an art critic, curator and writer.

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