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"L'Hexagone" is the down-to-earth description the French give their hexagonally-shaped country, which lies between Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Andorra, Spain, Monaco and Italy. The mythical capital, Paris, has the greatest urban, architectural and political appeal and still sets most trends. Chic fashions, philosophers and great cinema emanate from the metropolis. The fact that Paris is not France, and that it is possible to live like a god in France's traditional agrarian landscape, with its rich historical cultural heritage and the natural beauty of the countryside and the coasts, has long been known to the world. From the English Channel to Alsace and the French Alps to the Camargue and the Mediterranean, from Le Mans to Perpignan and the Pyrenees, from Bordeaux to the Basque Country, every landscape has its own specialities and facets. In this grandiose kaleidoscope of desires, everyone can find the piece of France that suits them. "La France" is a land of wine and cheese, of kir, cider and champagne, a land of menhirs, Roman aqueducts and amphitheatres, of castles and palaces, of Romanesque abbeys and great Gothic churches, of long rivers, the scent of lavender and pine, the chirping cicadas, the orchards, the patisserie, the nostalgic cars, the oysters de Bellone and the seafood platters that chansonnier George Brassens already enjoyed on the Sete canal. France is so much more and has crept into our minds, our stomachs and our hearts—with images that will remain unforgettable

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot was one of the greatest painters of human representations. His work is known all over the world, but has so far remained rather hidden from the general public. Above all, he is regarded as the most important modern landscape painter in France. Born at the time of the emerging classicism, he experienced the development of the great styles in lath century painting - but never felt a part of only one. The art critics at the beginning of the loth century nevertheless described him as the „pioneer of Impressionism". The artist cared little about such discussions. He loved to travel. He was constantly searching for the optimal light and new impressions, which he took with him into his studio to paint.

American Painting 1965-1930

Chris Newman

Paul Signac

Henri Rousseau (1844-1910) is one of the most important representatives of naive art. His paintings, characterized by a pronounced exoticism and a childlike awkwardness, can be understood as avant-garde. From the famous jungle paintings to numerous portraits and his cityscapes, one can discover Rousseau's work, which remains true to his simple but imaginative style.

Art Nouveau developed in very different forms between the 1880s and the First World War, starting in Western Europe. Organic lines and plant forms, building in iron, glass, and concrete, as well as the idea of the "Gesamtkunstwerk" (Complete work of art) can be found in London, Glasgow, and Riga as well as in St. Petersburg and Moscow. But above all in the Scandinavian countries and in Eastern Europe, Art Nouveau often developed into a young national style of its own, frequently with a return to regional traditions. In other countries, such as the Netherlands or the USA, the path seems to lead directly into Modernity, especially in architecture.

Mighty mountain ranges like the Andes, or the Himalayas with the highest mountains in the world, shape and form whole continents. Each mountain range is unique in itself and creates habitats for animals and plants that survive even in the most inhospitable areas. This title shows the breathtaking beauty of the world's mightiest mountains in over 400 impressive pictures.

Already revered by his admirers during his lifetime as "Il Divino" (the Divine), Michelangelo Buonarroti embodies the ideal artist of the Renaissance in Italy. No sculptor or painter was able to depict man more impressively in stone and colour; his grandiose masterpieces are still world-famous today.

With over 450 works, this volume deals with the most important trends and groups in French painting from the middle of the 19th century to the first years of the 20th century: naturalism, realism, impressionism, postimpressionism, symbolism, or the Nabis. This is development is illustrated in the most beautiful paintings by Corot, Monet, Degas, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cézanne, Bonnard and many other painters.

Between 1890 and the beginning of the First World War, a new international style developed in architecture and design. Following the example of the English Arts and Crafts movement, the representatives of Art Nouveau turned against the eclectic excesses of historicism and opposed them with organic forms, plant ornamentation, and functional constructions. This volume shows the highlights of Art Nouveau in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland.

The baroque period spanned the whole of Europe from 1600 to 1780. Beginning with Italian artists who brought drama to painting through dynamic compositions and pronounced contrasts between light and dark, the baroque was later exported by countless artists to their own countries, where the new style developed in very different ways. With its monumental historical paintings and magnificent portraits, catering to sovereign desires for splendor and demonstrations of both secular and religious power, the baroque rose to become the style of European court art. The latest phase of the baroque, known as rococo, began in about 1720 and was characterized by an increased sense of playfulness and intimacy.

With more than eight million visitors a year, the Louvre is the museum with the most visits in the world. Its extensive collection of paintings reflects the history of European art from the 13th to the early 19th century. With over 400 plates, detail images, and descriptions, this volume provides an overview of the Louvre's collection of paintings.

Art Deco is the decorative, distinctly aesthetic style of the years between 1920 and 1940. The movement embraced all areas of lifestyle and art. Art Deco was a commitment to modern technology, industrial design, and functionalization. With over 500 illustrations, this volume showcases the complexity of the Art Deco style and its manifestations in architecture, fashion, advertising, everyday objects, transport, and other areas of life.

This book is intended as a tribute to the baroque horses of Spain and Portugal. For centuries impressive Andalusian stallions have enchanted human beings and held them spellbound. They exude a beautiful compact elegance and a royal aura. Whether in harness, under the saddle, or running wild and free—their magnificence is unique and infinite. These horses were considered an important status symbol and even used to be weighed in terms of gold. Their legacy is immortal and is passed down throughout the generations in the bloodlines of the Pura Raza Espanola. The horses of the Puro Sangre Lusitano from Portugal, with their unique character and noble appearance, are of the same origin as their Spanish relatives. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the Sun King Joao V celebrated the heyday of equestrianism at his court in Lisbon. Lusitanos were much prized and sought after by all the European royal courts. They exude a very special charisma, are extremely impressive and truly magnificent.

Snow-capped Himalayan mountains, palm-fringed sandy beaches, impenetrable tropical jungles and majestic tigers, wild elephants and brilliant birds are just some of the attractions India has to offer in over 400 photographs in this splendid volume. Besides the scenic beauty, the cultural aspects and the people make this country very special.