Arts and Culture

Tattoo photography pioneer Justice Howard documents the American tattoo community with her highly iconic images. Howard effortlessly captures the essence of her subjects' triumphs, as well as their frailties. Her images enhance both the male and female physical forms, highlighting their strengths and prowess, and expose hidden elements of the human condition in all its kaleidoscopic beauty.

German naval officer Rolf Mützelburg was one of the outstanding figures of the WWII German U-boat arm. After obtaining regular successes against the North Atlantic convoys during his first four missions, he found new victims directly along the shores of Canada. Mützelburg received the highest decorations of the period and became one of the top U-boat aces.

Through well-researched text, as well as drawings and color photography, this book captures the magnificence of European cathedrals and the brilliance of the Master Builders and craftsmen who designed and built them. Cathedral building is a fusion of man’s greatest accomplishments in the arts, sciences, and humanities over the centuries.

Video cover art is a unique and largely lost artform representing a period of unabashed creativity during the video rental boom of the 1980s to early 1990s. The art explodes with a succulent, indulgent blend of design, illustration, typography, and hilarious copywriting.

Explore fashion history with legs at center stage—from the dawn of civilization through current-day trends. This book examines society’s role in moving hemlines and in shaping “legcentric” traditions throughout history. What has changed or stayed the same in the course of fashion eras? How have legs appeared in dance, sport, performance, pageantry, and conventional or outré outfits?

How do architects treat the drama of water and nature? Do they defer to it with a simple dwelling that grows out of the land, or make a statement with bold materials and forms? From the sleek, low-slung Water Villa de Omval in Amsterdam, to the eccentric House on the Greenland Sea, this book takes us on an in-depth tour of 30 private residences by leading architects in locations dedicated to ...

Through images of hands, this book conveys the strength, beauty, diversity, depth, and power of the blues, the root of all American music. It features photographs from Joseph A. Rosen’s 30-plus years of adventure in blues and music photography. Included are such noted music personalities as B.B. King, Gary Clark, Jr.

This second volume of cinematic eye candy further documents the quickly burgeoning underground film poster movement, a group of artists who challenge Hollywood’s marketing machine by bringing clever artwork and design back to movie posters. Nearly 100 emerging artists, with a dozen returning favorites, present their newly produced images.

Put on a pot of your favorite coffee, perk up, and enjoy nostalgic black-and-white photos that celebrate screen icons from the Silent Era through the eighties, making and drinking their own cups of joe, java, pour-overs, and percolated brews. Hollywood Café bridges the vibrant coffee culture of right-now with the glamorous coffee culture of the star-studded past.

This massive study on action movies and stars from around the world, from the 1960s to the present, is filled with more than a thousand in-depth movie reviews that cover every action star who's crossed over from the world of martial arts, sports, professional wrestling, and stunt work.

This book is a detailed history of the 27th Waffen-SS Division “Langemarck,” the Flemish volunteer SS combat formation. “Langemarck” was employed chiefly on the Eastern Front, first in the Ukraine in early 1944, then participating with a combat group in Estonia along the Tannenberg Line in the summer of 1944, alongside other European Waffen-SS volunteers subordinate to III.SS-Pz.

This book is a detailed history of the 23rd Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division “Nederland,” the Dutch volunteer SS combat formation. Employed exclusively on the eastern front, except for a brief period in Croatia, the “Nederland” formations participated in many of the most difficult defensive battles on the northeastern front: ...

Pop culture phenomena from the '80s and '90s, homages to Alberto Vargas and other classic pinup illustrations, and contemporary fashions and fetishes combine to form an exciting collection of modern pinups. Tributes to Baywatch, Rambo, Star Wars, Jessica Rabbit, and more late-20th century cultural references are included.

All of the uniform-specific insignia used by the Waffen-SS in World War II are presented in this concise, all-color book. Included are sleeve and cap eagles in their various versions, collar tabs, sleeve shields, and cuff titles, as well as shoulder boards and straps, and rank insignia.

The story of the French units of the Waffen-SS in World War II—the Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment; Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade, Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS “Charlemagne”; 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS “Charlemagne”—is told in this concise and detailed book.

Clear instructions and 148 photos welcome you to the subtle, fascinating world of Japanese calligraphy. Beginning with a summary of the art's history, this guide then helps you understand the two systems of script that Japanese uses together: kanji, the ideogram-like characters borrowed from the Chinese language; and kana, the purely phonetic characters.

Clear instructions and 129 photos welcome you to the world of calligraphy. Starting with the pens, inks, and writing surfaces you'll need, the book explains the basics, from filling the pen to holding the nib at the right angle. Practice exercises help you understand upstrokes, downstrokes, the optical center, and more.

This book is a visual survey of posters printed by the United States, the Allies, and the Axis, and offers an overview of the various categories of propaganda posters created in support of the war effort: recruiting, conservation, careless talk/anti-espionage, bond/fundraising, morale, and more.

This book is the follow-up to the groundbreaking  Chocolate Cheesecake, and is a new collection of modern black pin-up photography. Modern black pin-ups are becoming more popular as more photographers and models seek to expand the genre of pin-up photography beyond its historical limitations.

Originally knit as underwear, the sweater is a practical garment with homely beginnings and has evolved as a fashion statement. This book traces the sweater's 300-year history as an aesthetic and craft object, telling the story of its materials and construction, national traditions, fads and fashion, and accessories.