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Back in Print
XL
XL books are at least 34 cm (13.4 in.) high, with the exception of landscape-format titles

Peter Beard

150Edition: Multilingual (English, French, German)Availability: In Stock
Pioneering contemporary artist Peter Beard turned his life in New York and on the African continent into a Gesamtkunstwerk; a collage of photography, ecology, and diary writing. The original limited edition may have instantly sold out, but the book is now back to present the artist’s unique world, a realm of art, science, and beauty.
Hardcover10.2 x 14.7 in.11.85 lb770 pages
“This book captures the spirit and craft of a man who lived large in every sense.”
artnet.com
“A distillation of [Beard’s] diaries and notebooks that is equally lavish and ambitious.”
The New York Times
“A brick of a book.”
The Herald
“An all-out assault on the senses that is in turns sexy, unconventional, energetic, disturbing and provocative.”
amateurphotographer.co.uk
“A fitting tribute to the late, great photographer.”
forbes.com
“...expect to discover a captivating collage of photography, ecology and diary writing.”
GQ.co.uk
“TASCHEN’s ode to Peter Beard and his work on the American and African continents.”
vogue.com
“For all the hedonism [Beard] remained dedicated to showing how the African continent had been plundered through his unique images.”
The Times
“Beautiful, heart-rending images.”
The Guardian
“All of Peter Beard’s best work in one place.”
AVENUE Magazine
“This extravagant and magnificent book is a work of art in itself.”
L’EXPRESS
Back in Print
XL
XL books are at least 34 cm (13.4 in.) high, with the exception of landscape-format titles
Peter Beard

Peter Beard

150

Journey into the World of Peter Beard

An artist’s life magnified

Artist, diarist, collector, and writer Peter Beard (1938-2020) fashioned his life into a work of art; the illustrated diaries he kept from a young age evolved into a serious career as an artist and earned him a central position in the international art world. He collaborated with Francis Bacon and Salvador Dalí, he made diaries with Andy Warhol, worked on books with scientists like Dr. Norman Borlaug, Dr. Richard Laws, and Alistair Graham, and toured with Truman Capote, Terry Southern, and the Rolling Stones—all of whom are brought to life, literally and figuratively, in his work. He delved into the world of fashion for its beautiful women, taking Vogue stars like Veruschka to Africa and bringing new ones back to the U.S. with him.

After spending time in Kenya and striking up a friendship with the author Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) in the early 1960s, Beard bought 50 acres next to her farm with the stipulation that he would film and write about the land and its flora and fauna. He witnessed the dawn of Kenya’s population explosion, which challenged finite resources and stressed animal populations—including the starving elephants of Tsavo dying by the tens of thousands in a wasteland of eaten trees. So he documented what he saw—with diaries, photographs, and collages. He went against the wind in publishing unique and sometimes shocking books of these works, including The End of the Game. The corpses were laid bare; the facts carefully recorded, sometimes in type and often by hand. Beard used his photographs as a canvas onto which he superimposed multi-layered contact sheets, ephemera, found objects, newspaper clippings that are elaborately embellished with meticulous handwriting, old-master inspired drawings, and often swaths of animal blood used as paint.


The artist

Peter Beard (1938–2020) began taking photographs and keeping diaries from early childhood. By the time he graduated from Yale University, he had developed a keen interest in Africa. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s he worked in Tsavo Park, the Aberdares, and Lake Turkana in Kenya’s northern frontier. A constant creator, Beard the chronicler photographed, wrote, drew, collaged, and assembled a history of his life experiences and our own.

The authors

Owen Edwards has written about photography for more than 30 years for numerous publications including American Photographer, New York Times Magazine, and Smithsonian.

Steven M. L. Aronson, a former book publisher, is a writer and editor. He edited and published Peter Beard’s book Longing for Darkness and wrote the T.V. special The End of the Game. He is the author of HYPE and the co-author of Savage Grace.

The editors

David Fahey is co-owner of the Fahey/Klein Gallery, Los Angeles. During his 31-year career in the field, he has collaborated on over 45 fine art photography books. He is the co-vice president of the Herb Ritts Foundation and serves on the Photography Advisory Council for the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Nejma Beard is the Executive Director of the Peter Beard Studio. Her spirit and experience are synchronous with Beard’s—having been born and raised in Kenya. This deep familiarity and a devotion to a place and a people formed their unique collaborative relationship. Primary to her work is a deep concern for the future of the world and a commitment to ecologic and humanitarian efforts.

The contributor

Ruth Ansel is an award-winning art director known for her innovative design at many of America's top fashion and cultural magazines since the 1960s. Ansel Design Studio (est. 1992) has produced international fashion campaigns and books with photographers including Peter Beard, Richard Avedon, and Annie Leibovitz.

Peter Beard
Hardcover25.8 x 37.4 cm5.38 kg770 pages

ISBN 978-3-8365-7742-7

Edition: Multilingual (English, French, German)
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5

/5

15 Ratings

Unique

DUBRANA,November 6, 2021
A book about art, unique. Peter Beard takes us through the twentieth century creative process of editing and collage in the arts. An examplaire that sums up an extraordinary artistic life. To read and watch without moderation.

Africa with style

Libor,October 28, 2021
Africa with its beauty and cruelty. Collage of memories and the joy of creation. Greatly reproduced photographs and collages by Peter Beard. I was especially pleased with Eva Herzig's photographs.

A must have

Francisco,October 28, 2021
Peter Beard's collages are really amazing!

Muy Recomendable

Enrique,October 27, 2021
La historia personal de Peter Beard es increíble. Por lo tanto, había que plasmarla en un libro increíble. Muy Recomendable!!!

Awesome service

Regi G.,October 27, 2021
Taschen Brussels was so helpful in finding me the XXL version of Peter Beard which was sold out for years. Real passion for books by the employees of Taschen Brussels, and so friendly support. Thank you again !