Nieuwe Kunst - Ernst Braches

Ernst Braches The Book as New Art; A Study in Art Nouveau 556 pages. Incl. index, literature and notes. Height: 21 cm Width: 14 cm An ex libris is pasted on the French title page Nice and cool copy 578 grams
On Tuesday 10 April 1973, Braches obtained his doctorate with this dissertation on art nouveau book covers in the Netherlands. Book covers from the period 1892 to 1903 were taken as a starting point. But Braches begins with an explanation of the theoretical background of the so-called new art (art nouveau); in general, and then goes on to discuss the impact of that movement on the designs of book covers. In addition to the introductory chapters, Braches focuses on individual artists who designed book covers, of whom De Bazel, Derkinderen, Dijsselhof and Toorop receive the most attention. These artists are discussed in the chapters that thematically divide the illustrations. A not unimportant part concerns book covers for publications by the writer Louis Couperus. The covers for his works Majesteit, Ecstacy, Orchideën, Wereldvrede, Hooge troeven, Metamorfoze, Noodlot, Psyche, Fidessa, Stille kracht, Babel, De boeken der kleine zielen and God en goden, are all discussed. The dissertation concludes with dozens of illustrations of book covers, a chronological overview of approximately 400 book covers containing book decorations from the period in question, and an extensive index.