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What Great Paintings Say. Masterpieces in Detail

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( 554 ratings, 55 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
What Great Paintings Say. Masterpieces in Detail by Rainer & Rose-Marie Hagen, published by TASCHEN, delves into the intricate narratives and historical contexts behind renowned artworks. By exploring the stories and subtle details within each piece, this book provides readers with a deeper understanding of the masterpieces and the events or inspirations surrounding their creation, enriching the experience for both art enthusiasts and novices alike.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by art history and the hidden stories behind famous artworks. The authors delve into the details of masterpieces, uncovering intriguing narratives and cultural contexts that enhance your appreciation of these iconic paintings. Perfect for those who love exploring the deeper meanings and secrets that great art can reveal.

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If you thought these paintings were familiar, look again, and look closer. Part art history, part detective work, this fascinating collection explores 100 world-famous works of art through enlarged details, revealing the fashions and lifestyles, the loves and intrigues, politics and people that truly make a masterpiece.

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

This important addition to our understanding of art history's masterworks puts some of the world's most famous paintings under a magnifying glass to uncover their most small and subtle elements and all they reveal about a bygone time, place, and culture.

Guiding our eye to the minutiae of subject and symbolism, authors Rose-Marie and Rainer Hagen allow even the most familiar of pictures to come alive anew through their intricacies and intrigues. Is the bride pregnant? Why does the man wear a beret? How does the shadow of war hang over a scene of dancing?

Along the way, we travel from Ancient Egypt through to modern Europe, from the Renaissance to the Roaring Twenties. We meet Greek heroes and poor German poets and roam from cathedrals to cabaret bars, from the Garden of Eden to a Garden Bench in rural France.

As we pick apart each painting and then reassemble it like a giant jigsaw puzzle, these celebrated canvases captivate not only in their sheer wealth of details but also in the witness they bear to the fashions and trends, people and politics, loves and lifestyles of their time.

Series: Bibliotheca Universalis

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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?

What Great Paintings Say: Masterpieces in Detail by Rainer & Rose-Marie Hagen, published by TASCHEN, is praised for its informative and stylish exploration of art. The book is noted for its intriguing details and reflects the authors' deep passion for art, complemented by sumptuous reproductions.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836559263

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 15 January 2016

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 45.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 1016g

Pages: 664

About the Author

Rose-Marie Hagen (1928 - 2022) was born in Switzerland and studied history, Romance languages, and literature in Lausanne. After further studies in Paris and Florence, she lectured at the American University in Washington, D.C. Rainer Hagen was born in Hamburg and graduated in literature and theater studies in Munich. He later worked for radio and TV, most recently as chief editor of a German public broadcasting service. Together they have collaborated on several TASCHEN titles, including Masterpieces in Detail, Pieter Bruegel, and Francisco de Goya.

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