The extraordinary art of Frank Fasanella - his electrically alive vision of the city and of America - was "discovered" in 1972, when he was 58, an attendant at his brother's gas station. A one-man dhow, a cover story in New York Magazine... and his complex, vibrant "primitive" canvasses became a public treasure. Now, for the first time in a book, 38 of his paintings are brought together, especially photographed, all magnificently reproduced in full color. And, in an inspired act of sympathy and intuition, Patrick Watson - looking at the paintings themselves listening to Fasanella's own words - has been able both to reveal the man and to amplify our pleasure in his work. Read more
A**R
I love his work and had a chance to see many ...
Snatch up these used copies of Fasanella's works and life before they are gone! They are out of print. I love his work and had a chance to see many of his paintings at an exhibit in NYC 2 years ago.
A**S
saw exhibit of fasanella's work in new york at the ...
saw exhibit of fasanella's work in new york at the folk art museum. the shoppe was out of catalogues so of course, turned to amazon, and there it was.
K**R
Don’t know how useful book will be
Was interested in a print of one of his paintings opted for the book?!?
R**E
Fascinating Fasanella
Fasanella was a great 20th century artist.
T**N
The man & the city
Here's a wonderful art book about a self-trained artist with his own, deeply personal vision of the city around him -- in his case, the city of New York. Published in the early 1970s, when Ralph Fasanella was "discovered" by the art world & briefly celebrated, it's both a fine introduction to the man's work & to his life itself, reminding us that art is born of a desire for expression, and that formal training & a slew of degrees are not necessarily the only path to that expression. His paintings are bright, detailed, vibrant with life, truly capturing the essence of the city from a man-on-the-street perspective -- a man with a sensitive & observing eye, not so much interested in classical reproduction as in making us see the bustling energy of his world. And not just the energy, but the quieter moments as well. This is especially apparent in the more intimate, religious pieces reflecting his Catholic background, works of hushed but passionate devotion. The paintings are beautifully reproduced on good, glossy paper, including the use of foldouts for the larger pieces -- the rich colors are like jewels, a sumptuous feast for the eye.Ballantine Books w/Peacock Press published many such relatively inexpensive, high quality art books like this in those days, providing a first glimpse into art for countless readers who might not otherwise have encountered it. How I wish that still happened today! In any case, this is a treasure for anyone who stumbles upon a used copy, which I urge you to snap up immediately -- highly recommended!
Trustpilot
4 days ago
2 months ago
