The Art of the Book

Taschen's Treasures

Taschen Store New York 

107 Greene Street, Manhattan
Photo:  Hillary Ganton

Think about those small, independent bookstores before chain megastores.  These stand-alone shops were inviting and cozy, conducive to browsing. Discoveries were everywhere. Time spent was uplifting, even restorative.  Taschen on Greene Street in Manhattan is such a place.  

Taschen Store New York, Interior

107 Greene Street, Manhattan
Photo:  Hillary Ganton

For some fourteen years, the German publishing house Taschen, has been opening stylish bookstores in major cities worldwide.  Filled with their own publications, the stores seem more like art galleries than book retailers.  Tomes on painting, architecture, photography, design, décor, film, typology, and fashion mix with those on travel, style, pop culture and erotica.  The conventional coexists with the controversial.  

Phillip Starck, the internationally esteemed French designer, is the publisher's "go to" store deviser.  In New York, Starck created a contemporary two-level space with ingeniously angled “floating” bookshelves that seem to sprout from industrial flooring. Floor-to-ceiling murals by the Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes enliven the area with color, movement and sensuality. A back skylight illuminates the lower level where original photography published by Taschen is displayed with art and collector’s editions.

Detail of Mural by Beatriz Milhazes,

Taschen Store New York

107 Greene Street, Manhattan

Photo:  Hillary Ganton

Taschen Store New York, Interior,

View of Lower Level

107 Greene Street, Manhattan
Photo:  Hillary Ganton

Taschen’s books, of course, are the stars.  Known for their quality and beauty, many of the publications can be described as simply gorgeous.  They are books you want to open, touch and spend time with. Remarkably, these well-made products are reasonably priced.  

Taschen Store New York, Book Display

107 Greene Street, Manhattan
Photo:  Hillary Ganton

There are books for every level of buyer.  The monograph series on art and architecture (Basic Art and Basic Architects) with fine reproductions are $9.99 in paperback (size 7.3 x 9.1 inches) and $14.99 in hardcover (size 9.4 x 11.8 inches).  As art books go, these are a steal.  Compare them to the price of a movie ticket.  

Specially produced collector’s and art editions are significantly more costly.  As an example, take a look at the Genesis, the much acclaimed black-and-white photography book by the Brazilian photographer and MacArthur Foundation "Genius" awardee, Sebastião Salgado.  

Sebastião Salgado, from Genesis,

Two black-browed albatrosses nestle while overlooking the Willis Islands

 near South Georgia, in the far South Atlantic.

Photo:  Sebastião Salgado—Amazonas/Contact Press Images

Genesis is the result of eight years of over thirty expeditions to areas untouched by modernity.  Salgado's photographs capture what remains pristine on earth and what deserves protection.  The pictures are exquisite in deep blacks, subtle tonal variations and dramatic contrasts of light and dark.  The 520 page trade edition, measuring 9.6 x 14 inches, is priced at $69.99.  The two volume collector's and art editions are "sumo size", 18.4 x 27.6 inches.  They come with a cherry wood book stand designed by the renown Japanese architect Tadao Ando.  The collector’s edition, limited to 2,500, sells for $4,000. It is numbered, signed and bound in quarter-leather and cloth.  The art edition, also numbered and signed but bound in full leather, costs $10,000.  It includes one signed photograph print out of a choice of five.  Each is published in an edition of 100.  One selection is already sold out.  The collector’s edition and the art edition combined limit the signed and numbered sets to 3,000.  Given the care and artistry of these books, their pricing does not seem extravagant. Others obviously agree for Taschen's books sell.  On this writer's visits to the New York store, there was a steady stream of customers who not only looked but purchased. 

The publishing house is the brainchild of Benedikt Taschen.  In 1980, he began selling comic books in Cologne Germany.  A few years later, he purchased and successfully resold remainder copies of a book on René Magritte.  Before long, he was producing his own art books.  He had an idea:  make beautiful art books at affordable prices.  This is what he has done.

Taschen's tastes keep his books alive, CBS News, uploaded on Mar 20, 2011

Video:  YouTube

The publisher's Hieronymus Bosch. The Complete Works by Stefan Fischer is due out in April, 2014.  Judging from the book's press release and selected photos, expect another Taschen visual delight. Visit the store and be on the look out for the Bosch book. 

Taschen Store New York

107 Greene Street, Manhattan

Hours:  
Tuesday - Saturday,

11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, 12 noon - 7:00 p.m.