Beautiful, luxurious books. Books that we call coffee table books. Books that are as much or more eye candy as they are word-laden. Irresistible frequently but to many only justifiable in their decadence and expense as gifts. Especially during the holiday season. I have purchased a few for gifts this Christmas but the one I would most likely keep for myself is from Merrell. Angie Lewin: Plants and Places with text by Leslie Geddes-Brown.
Botanical images are a particular favorite of mine, but there is something enchanting about Lewin's work that is often missing elsewhere. It is neither faithful reproduction nor whimsical reinterpretation, but homage to the intricate details of nature, once removed from realistic images. Paintings, sketches, woodcuts, collages are all contained in this new book that is divided into locations of inspiration - Coast, Woodland and Hedgerow, River and Loch, Meadow and Garden and finally a return to Studio for the end.
Her work has been compared to Albrecht Durer's watercolour and gouache painting The Large Turf, the work of wood engravers Thomas Bewick and Samuel Palmer, and other 20th century masters of the tiniest of details. Lewin's intense observations of the smallest objects in nature, and the repetition of those features in textiles and prints, have the effect of bringing one's face right to the edge of the reproduced object.
Enjoy not only the large collection of images in this book but also the process for the artist and the peeks into her studio. If Lewin's work appeals to you, check out her website here, including a place to order her limited edition prints. Her fabrics may be viewed and ordered here. And her notebook designs here. Or just enjoy this lovely book.
