Most of us don’t read books the way we used to – attention spans are short, BookTok recommendations fill our shelves, and audiobooks are the new books. But there’s one type of book that will never go out of style, and that’s the classic art book. By that, we mean those sometimes thick coffee table books full of beautiful images.
But with the best art books, the appeal goes beyond the visual. These aren’t auction catalogs, after all. Great art books are creatively curated and offer readers a deep dive into the movements, niche cultures, and personal stories behind the works presented on each page. There are fascinating career retrospectives and anthologies of major biennials, museum and gallery overviews, and reissues of obscure photography books—in other words, something for everyone.
Our fall art book recommendations, all due out in the coming months, promise to be equally detailed, beautiful to look at, and insightful.
Hometown
German model and photographer Ellen von Unwerth, who is very familiar with the fashion world, has published a new photo book with TASCHEN entitled Hometownthat’s the German word for the feeling of belonging. This art book features glossy, glamorous and sexualized photos of women romping through the south of Germany – peppered with Bavarian cliches from beer to dirndls. Considering that the south of Germany is more traditional and not particularly adventurous, it offers a refreshing view of her home region.
Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939
For a look back at pre-war Paris, visit Brilliant Exileswhich looks at the influential American women who lived, worked and participated in the culture of Paris in the early 20th century. Each of them had their own way of expressing the freedom that Paris offered women, from singer Josephine Baker to muse Zelda Fitzgerald to writer Gertrude Stein or gallery owner Peggy Guggenheim. All were trailblazers who ultimately changed culture at home and abroad. The book is published to coincide with the traveling exhibition of the same name, which will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery until February 23, 2025.
Balenciaga – Kublin: A fashion record
Balenciaga has seen better days. The recent controversy surrounding tied-up teddy bears has left many fashion fans dreaming of the days when the brand stood for truth and authenticity. “Balenciaga – Kublin: A Fashion Record” by Ana Balda and Maria Kublin, which will be released on October 22nd, is the first book to document the work of fashion photographer and filmmaker Tom Kublin and his collaboration with brand founder Cristóbal Balenciaga. Featuring over 140 photographs from Balenciaga’s heyday in post-war Paris, this art book shows how Kublin captured Balenciaga couture in the 1950s and 1960s. There are behind-the-scenes shots of Balenciaga at work, as well as fashion editorials and street style shots.
The world according to David Hockney
Coming out this September, this anthology of art images and quotes by Martin Gayford offers insight into the philosophy and life of British artist David Hockney. Part of Thames & Hudson’s The World According To series, the book explores Hockney’s artistic process. With quotable quotes such as “The eye is always moving; if it’s not moving, you’re dead” and artistic insights such as “Painted color will always be better than printed color, for it is the pigment itself,” Hockney shares his thoughts and discusses how he was inspired by icons such as Paul Cezanne, Walt Disney, and his fellow artists.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The decisive moment
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The decisive momentco-produced by Cartier-Bresson and Clément Chéroux, is a new edition of an already groundbreaking photo book. The decisive moment (Pictures à la Sauvette The book “The Big Dream” (in French) contains over 200 photos from the first twenty years of Cartier-Bresson’s career as a photojournalist. First published in 1952 with images of post-war Paris, it has been described as a “photographer’s bible”. It will be released on September 10.
Summoning the spirit world: art, magic and media
Fans of magic need look no further. Summoning the spirit world: art, magic and media by George H. Schwartz, curator of the Peabody Essex Museum, neuroscientist Tedi Asher, and others who explore the art and objects related to magicians and their practice. From posters to “spirit photography,” this book looks back to an era when magic was no longer convincing. It includes photos and paraphernalia from Harry Houdini, Margery the Medium, Howard Thurston, and the Fox Sisters, to name a few, in chapters that reveal the illusions and stage artistry that made them the finest performers of their time. It is published by Rizzoli on September 17.
101 Surrealists
101 Surrealists by Desmond Morris looks at the lives and works of some of the most compelling artists of the now century-old Surrealist movement. It begins with André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto of 1924 and follows the works of Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Max Ernst, Joan Miro and Francis Pacabia, as well as the overlooked artists who were part of the movement, such as Kay Sage. Morris is one of the last living Surrealist artists and knew many of the artists whose work is featured in this art book. It is published by Thames & Hudson on October 29th.
Biennale Arte 2024: Foreigners everywhere
Although the title of this year’s Venice Biennale was nothing short of controversial (just look at what Anish Kapoor had to say about it), this world-famous art festival is always a must-see. For those who couldn’t make it to Venice in person, there’s a multi-volume Biennale overview coming out on October 15. The collection contains over 1,000 artworks and illustrations that, according to curator Adriano Pedrosa, are “a celebration of the strange, the distant, the outsider, the queer and the indigenous.”
