Craxton's Cats

Andrew Lambirth

$29.99

Hardback

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English

Thames & Hudson
29 August 2024

Art & Architecture; Painting & paintings; Individual artists, art monographs

An appealing picture book of cats depicted by John Craxton, one of the major figures of modern British painting, with an introduction and commentary by Andrew Lambirth, who knew Craxton well.

By concentrating on a single subject very dear to John Craxton's heart - cats - this book offers a much more accessible introduction to this popular artist (championed by David Attenborough and Andrew Marr among many others) than the recently published biography and monograph. Craxton's significance as the early artist companion of Lucian Freud, his time in Greece and his collaborations with Patrick Leigh Fermor have generated growing interest in his art.

For John Craxton, cats were an index of moods and states of mind, and a splendidly apposite vehicle for his visual and verbal wit. Craxton loved cats and lived with them, on and off, for most of his life. The cat image came readily to mind and hand, whether he was planning a taverna scene in Crete, or doodling during a telephone conversation. Cats permeate his art, weaving their way through his paintings, drawings and prints, bringing humour and mischief to his images as they did to his daily existence. Affectionate and faithless, they were like so many casual lovers, no better than they should be, and gloriously on the make. In many ways, they are a fitting symbol or leitmotif for Craxton's own happy-go-lucky life.

Containing new and original material, this widely accessible introduction to Craxton's work will appeal to the devotee and the uninitiated alike.

By: Andrew Lambirth
Imprint: Thames & Hudson
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 190mm, Width: 170mm,
Weight: 420g
ISBN: 9780500028049
ISBN 10: 0500028044
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 29 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Andrew Lambirth is a writer, curator, poet and collagist. He was art critic of The Spectator (2002-2014). His numerous books include full-length monographs on Ken Kiff (T&H), Roger Hilton (T&H), RB Kitaj, Allen Jones, Maggi Hambling, John Hoyland, Margaret Mellis, David Inshaw, Francis Davison, William Gear and John Nash. He developed with Eileen Agar her autobiography, A Look at My Life, and contributed to the new edition, published by Thames & Hudson in 2024.

Reviews for Craxton's Cats

An ode to the many moods of felines, providing a visual index of various states of mind. The pages contain both new and original materials from Craxton, and will appeal to both the loyal devotee and the uninitiated, as long as there is an underlying appreciation of cats.-- ""Galerie Magazine"" (9/17/2024 12:00:00 AM)