Maria-Christina Boerner

The Belle Epoque (Beautiful Era), which dates from the late nineteenth century to the start of World War I, was an incredible period of creative and scientific activity. Until his death in 1901 at the age of 36, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was one of its leading names along with poets and writers such as Guy de Maupassant and Emile Zola. He exhibited with Vincent Van Gogh and was a friend of Oscar Wilde whom he met during his time in London. Creating literally thousands of artworks during his short life, the images that Toulouse-Lautrec created were evocative of the mood of that time. His drawings and lithographs were often playful or satirical, but captured the essence of his subject This book brings together over 170 images. In addition, there are documentary images from the period depicting life in 'fin de siecle' Paris and selected cities around the world. Clothing, architecture and images of street life are featured and where possible photographs of the people Toulouse-Lautrec featured in his works such as Aristide Bruant.

This volume, based on rarely seen Russian archives, traces the history of the silent film poster in Russia, starting with a poster designed by Paul Assaturov ('Stenka Razin', 1908) in the style of ancient naive Russian imagery to the latest advertise- ment for a silent movie by Yuri Pimenov from 1934. Full-page reproductions of 161 Russian silent film posters are presented here in chronological order- from the very beginning of the 20th century until the 1930s. These film posters are unique in their approach to representing films, creating new and original images- more evocative than descriptive. The movie is depicted through the use of expressive typography, geometric forms, minimalist illustrations and their distinctive technique of recreating photographs by hand. Works by famous artists of the time such as Alexander Rodchenko, the Stenberg Brothers, Yakov Ruklevsky, Nikolai Prusakov, Alexander Naumov and others are featured. After the Russian revolution in 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1922, cinema played an important role in the dissemination of propaganda for the new regime. A large number of Russian movies were produced during the 1920s and early 1930s, and there was also an increase in films imported from other countries. Advertising posters played a major role to attract large audiences. The book reveals the strong influence of modernist art movements such as constructivism and Dadaism on these art works.

Angels, devils and demons have played a significant role ever since the emergence of religious beliefs. As messengers from other worlds, be they harbringers of good news or tempters, they touch the fundamental hopes and fears of every human being, while at the same time depicting the eternal battle of good and evil. In Christian art, angels and devils, with their human-like aspects allied with their angelic or devilish nature, were a favourite theme of painters and sculptors, as their imagination was set free to create artworks that fascinate in every respect, including masterpieces such as 'The Last Judgement' by Giotto di Bondone (1304-6), 'The Annunciation' by Leonardo da Vinci (1472-75), 'The Temptation of St. Anthony' by Hieronymus Bosch (1505/1506) or 'The Gates of Hell' by Auguste Rodin Auguste Rodin (1880-1917) to name but a few. Angelus & Diabolus is the first publication of its kind to offer a visually stunning collection of the most beautiful and breath-taking pieces of art reflecting this exciting contrast between Heaven and Hell. Substantial texts by art historian Maria-Christina Boerner are accompanied by striking pictures by photographer Achim Bednorz, some of which show rarely seen details and make otherwise hidden elements accessible to the beholder. This tome comprises an unprecedented compilation of this timeless subject.