Edited by author, journalist and filmmaker Jessica Hundley, the series speaks the universal language of symbolism. “The idea,” says Hundley, “was to create a super introductory, very inclusive and seductive way into these practices, which is through the art.” Taschen, with its lavish art production, made the ideal partner “because that’s what they do best.”

By virtue of this intersection with cultural shifts and the long association of the witch archetype and feminism, “Witchcraft” will likely be more political than the first two volumes — which does not mean it will be any less aesthetically striking. Grossman was a consultant on Zoe Lister-Jones’ recent revamp of “ The Craft,” and she is “deeply interested in how cinema, fashion, music and television have helped us to evolve the image of the witch.” She also shares with Hundley a love for fine artists, including Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo, “who use their art practice as a form of magic making.” This is a well presented book with a lot of great art used to to illustrate the chapters. Each chapter covers whole areas of witchcraft in belief & practice, in myth and how it is significant in modern culture. The first of the four I decided to read was Witchcraft, a hefty tome that has that beautiful heavy ink smell whenever you open it. I saw the whole of the Library of Esoterica in a bookshop window when I was down in London late last year and knew I had to have them, but I was running late for my train and almost forgot about them.Delves into the witch's complex history, symbols, and depictions across time... * hyperallergic.com *

Entiendo que se le haya querido dar un punto de vista feminista pero no es normal que haya tenido que llevar un contador de las veces que han aparecido "patriarcado" "opresión" "feminismo"y la que menos me gusta de todas "empoderamiento"pues hay veces que se repiten varias veces en un mismo párrafo. Exagerado. Otra cosa que añadiría, aunque eso imagino que solo lo habrá echado de menos gente a la que le interesa el arte, es que se hubiera incluido en las descripciones de las obras de arte datos como los medios (óleo sobre lienzo, acuarela sobre papel, escultura en "lo que sea"....) y las dimensiones de las obras. Pero está bien que sólo aparezca el nombre, título, año y país. Andrea Richards, the book’s author , is the first to say that she is not an astrologer but a journalist and scholar, interested in examining “the beliefs around beliefs.” She dismisses the notion of astrology as “fortune-telling”; instead, it’s about “patterns and stories and the transmissions of stories between generations.”

Create a new list

Beautiful book. Would recommend getting the whole set! The information is good the images are a great source . Top quality printing, on a good weight of paper, excellent bound and full of detailed information. Another great addition to the Taschen Esoterica Library.