Landscape Painting Now: From Pop Abstraction to New Romanticism

Depictions of the natural world in painting have become more pertinent and urgent, with some of the most ambitious and intellectually vibrant paintings being created in this century involving the landscape. Until now, there has not been an ambitious and wide-reaching publication on the subject, but Landscape Painting Now is the first book to explore the best contemporary landscape painting. It features artists from nearly twenty-five countries born over seven decades and is introduced by an essay from Barry Schwabsky, who discusses the history of landscape painting and how it has become increasingly relevant to art now.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2019
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

The depiction of the natural world in painting has never been more pertinent or urgent, whether as a reaction to our technological present or as a manifestation of fears concerning our environmental future. Some of the most ambitious, crucial, and intellectually vibrant paintings being created in this century involve the landscape, from a more traditional, perceptual-based approach for rendering vistas to a looser, topography-inspired gestural abstraction that blurs the line between form and space, to many other modes in between. Surprisingly, there has not been an ambitious and wide-reaching publication on the subject until now.

The result of several years worth of research, Landscape Painting Now is the first book to explore the very best contemporary landscape painting. Featuring artists from nearly twenty-five countries born over seven decades, it includes some of the brightest stars of the contemporary art world. It is introduced by an essay from Barry Schwabsky, who discusses the history of landscape painting, exploring how the genre developed through the 20th century to today, and how it has become increasingly relevant to art now. He also explores the notion of what is actually called a landscape painting today, and looks to expand beyond commonly held preconceptions concerning the genre.

The book is divided into four sections, each exploring a different aspect of contemporary landscape painting. The first section, "The Landscape as Subject," features paintings that depict the natural world as it is, without any manipulation or abstraction. The second section, "The Landscape as Symbol," features paintings that use the landscape as a symbol of something else, such as nature, spirituality, or human emotion. The third section, "The Landscape as Metaphor," features paintings that use the landscape as a metaphor for something else, such as social or political issues. The fourth section, "The Landscape as Art," features paintings that use the landscape as a medium for artistic expression, without any specific subject or meaning.

Each painting in the book is accompanied by an essay that provides insight into the artist's approach to the landscape, as well as the cultural and historical context in which the painting was created. The essays are written by leading art historians that experts in the field.

Landscape Painting Now is a stunning collection of contemporary landscape painting that showcases the talent and creativity of artists from around the world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the genre, and a valuable resource for art lovers and collectors alike. Whether you are a seasoned art collector or a newcomer to the world of contemporary art, this book will provide you with a fresh perspective on the landscape and inspire you to explore its many possibilities.

Weight: 2496g
Dimension: 289 x 266 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500239940