Henry Darger

This beautiful book presents the extraordinary work of the iconic American "outsider" artist in a new critical light, locating him as a major figure in the history of contemporary art. Self-taught and working in isolation until his death in 1973, Henry Darger realised an elaborate fantasy world of remarkable beauty and strangeness through hundreds of paintings and an epic written narrative. Angel-like Blengins with butterfly wings, natural catastrophes, innocent girls, and murderous soldiers all appear in Darger's scenes, which are reproduced in this book in double-page and gatefold illustrations. In the volume's introductory essay, Klaus Biesenbach examines the radical originality of Darger's art, including his use of collage, incorporation of religious themes and iconography, and frequent juxtaposition of innocence with violence. An essay by Brooke Davis Anderson illuminates Darger's source materials and techniques, while another by Michael Bonesteel puts Darger's life in the context of his work. The book also includes Darger's autobiography, "A History of My Life," introduced by Carl Watson. The only book of its kind, Henry Darger offers an authoritative, balanced, and insightful look at an American master. AUTHOR: Klaus Biesenbach is Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. SELLING POINTS: . Henry Darger's extraordinary art and biography have held a fascinating power within the art world and in the wider popular imagination since his death in 1973. His posthumous reputation continues to grow and in recent years he has been the subject of a documentary film and several major art exhibitions. . The book presents more than 200 of Darger's watercolor paintings, vibrantly coloured and often with collage elements incorporated. . Klaus Biesenbach's introductory essay offers a fresh perspective on Darger by focusing on his work's radical originality and its influence on major contemporary artists. 280 colour images and 4 gatefolds