Ekphrasis Book Collection

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greeks used the term ekphrasis to define a piece of literature or poetry that vividly describes a work of visual art. Like most words, the meaning of ekphrasis has evolved slightly over time and it is now used to classify any piece of media (be it writing, visual art, music or film) that is made about another art form. Compiled by the David Zwirner Gallery, our Ekphrasis Book Collection is a series of rare, out-of-print or newly commissioned texts that center around art, penned by a host of iconic creatives. There’s much to discover in this collection of brightly-colored, pocket-sized paperbacks —  newly-translated painting tutorials from revolutionary printmaker Katsushika Hokusai; essays from poet, dramatist and critic Larry Neal on the Black Arts Movement; and Émile Bernard’s collection of correspondences with Vincent Van Gogh, just to name a few. Grab whichever intrigues you — or bring home the entire collection for a vibrant and inspiring addition to your bookshelf. Any Day Now: Toward a Black Aesthetic•text by Larry Neal•editor's note by Elizabeth Gordon•introduction by Allie Biswas •paperback•178 pages•4.25"W x .75"D x 7"H My Friend Van Gogh•text by Emile Bernard •translated to english by Elizabeth G. Heard •introduction by Martin Bailey•paperback •144 pages •4.25"W x .5"D x 7"H The Critic as an Artist•text by Oscar Wilde •introduction by Michael Bracewell•paperback•142 pages •4.25"W x .5"D x 7"H The Psychology of an Art Writer•text by Vernon Lee •translated by Jeff Nagy •paperback •136 pages •4.25"W x .5"D x 7"H