Mexicana

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and (obviously) Iconic
Review: I am always surprised by the images assembled in the Taschen Icon Series. They manage to actually assembele a small collection that is indicative of the breadth of a subject. Many of the images are stereotypical and many are new and different from maintsream ideas of Mexican graphics.

All in all, a beautiful book

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and (obviously) Iconic
Review: This all-color paperback shows a fascinating glimpse of Mexico using everyday printed ephemera. Considering the huge nation to the north of the country I found it intriguing that this material has its own distinctive national look and owes nothing to the graphic styles of the US. Apart from the three pages of introduction (in English, German and French) at the start of the book there is no other text, like other Taschen `Icon' books it is devoted to images.

The range of material shown, stretching back to the thirties, is impressive, magazine covers, bottle and can labels, matchbook covers, cigarette packets, posters (fortunately only eight pages devoted to the old favorite, bullfighting) travel brochures, menus, paperback covers, ads, calendar paintings and more. Apart from a few photos all the material is illustrative (mainly paintings) and depending on its use the work ranges from the excellent to the rather amateurish.

This could be a very useful little book if you need some quick graphic reference to Mexicana and even Latin America.

Rating:
Summary: South of the border, in color.
Review: This all-color paperback shows a fascinating glimpse of Mexico using everyday printed ephemera. Considering the huge nation to the north of the country I found it intriguing that this material has its own distinctive national look and owes nothing to the graphic styles of the US. Apart from the three pages of introduction (in English, German and French) at the start of the book there is no other text, like other Taschen 'Icon' books it is devoted to images.

The range of material shown, stretching back to the thirties, is impressive, magazine covers, bottle and can labels, matchbook covers, cigarette packets, posters (fortunately only eight pages devoted to the old favorite, bullfighting) travel brochures, menus, paperback covers, ads, calendar paintings and more. Apart from a few photos all the material is illustrative (mainly paintings) and depending on its use the work ranges from the excellent to the rather amateurish.

This could be a very useful little book if you need some quick graphic reference to Mexicana and even Latin America.

Rating:
Summary: Mexico Mania
Review: What a great book for any graphic artist. . This is not your daddy's clip art book considering the prefect photos and layout. This book should be on every library of anyone involved in the graphic arts. The price is really incredible too. As a graphic artist I sometimes need to get inspired - this is one of those books that helps me get out of a creative slump. Even my non-art friends find it enjoyable to look at.