National Gallery of Canada

The exhibition catalogue as treasure house. Catalogue of an exhibition in Montreal for Expo 1967 with art, mostly paintings, from many ages and places on loan from museums and private owners around the world and with commentaries from several dozen experts. Most people would recognise a few of the works but because of the range and eclecticism (though there is a thematic organisation--Urban Man, Man and His Ideals, Man in Conflict, e.g.) I doubt many people would recognise most of them. And even the better-known works may be discussed in way a offering a new perspective or offering new (in 1967) information/interpretations.

Each work of art is given a page (which alas it rarely fills) and on facing page is the text in both languages. Few of the illustrations are in colour which is understandable but sometimes frustrating because the elements in a painting the text refers to can be more difficult to pick out in b/w and to me this is the only noteworthy drawback of the catalogue.

It took me a long time to go through this book. The main reason was that almost every image seemed to compel a long study. Another, less elevated, reason was that I was also compelled to compare the translations--usually from English to French--to the originals. I swear to God some of the translators deliberately showed polite disagreement with the authors about a few of the works by their word choices and by their emphasis upon one phrase over another. The exhibition catalogue as (terribly understated) drama.

In any case even if you've only the mildest interest in art this would be a book to keep an eagle eye out for in second-hand bookshops because you'd find yourself taking an interest in a fair few of the pictures. And even if you've a great interest in it, you might find your view of particular works refreshed and find yourself better appreciating even what you might nonetheless never come to like.… (meer)

This has got to be one of the worst museum guides I have ever read. I often use museum guides as a beacon to identify the best of the best in a museum; I had a truly difficult time finding even what should have been the most obvious pieces in the museum. Perhaps they are on rotation? Loaned out? Considering there are only 36 total pages, it should have been easy enough to find most. My best guess is that this is a outdated. The book also wastes pages by having a two page spread to denote a ‘collection’, followed by 2 to 4 pages for examples in that collection. This means very few art pieces are in fact showcased. What a sorry excuse of a museum guide book this is.… (meer)