Johannes H. Von Gumppenberg

A Lexicon of Drawing: Problems and Solutions Johannes H. Von Gumppenberg

Not so much a "how-to" on drawing, this book of unique art plates adds new insights to modern concepts of composition and design. Its beautiful presentation seeks to please the art collector as well as the student.

• A single theme, whose nuggets are scattered throughout, unifies these varied and original drawings done over a period of ten years: Understanding fundamentals enables the modern artist to present "all things in all ways," making the most of both observation and inventiveness.

• This volume consists only of images. While including "teaching text" handwritten into the illustrations, at the same time the artist crafted each plate to speak by example as a work of art.

• This seemingly modest but intensely interesting collection of black and white illustrations was done as freehand studies with the ball-point pen, originally sized for 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

• Some earlier pages were multiplied and passed on as teaching aids to students. The greater number served the artist in analytical experiment and study, showing what possibilities his insights can deliver in extending modern freedoms for the thoughtful viewer.

• Later pages are unique works of art seeking to carry into execution a creative wish.

Overall this collection seems the offspring or sequel of a more severely formal earlier book: The Formulation of a Graphic Language.