Exactly half a century old, this timeless illustrated classic artfully captures the 'Madmen' era New York City through a distinctive and charming mid-century aesthetic. The unique essence of New York City was never more poetically celebrated than in Vladimir Fuka's brilliant, colourful illustrations and collages and Zden?k Mahler's playful accompanying narrative. The authors take us on a charming journey of discovery through the magnificent metropolis' architectural landmarks, cultural hot spots and ethnically diverse neighborhoods - from the high to the low: Wall St to Coney Island, The Guggenheim Museum to Yankees Stadium. Interesting historical fun facts about the city and its inhabitants paint a true picture of everyday New York reality. New York was created in 1964 and first printed in the former Czechoslovakia in 1968 but the entire print run was pulped by the secret police after Fuka escaped to America. The book was finally brought to life when Mahler's grandson discovered a surviving copy under a pile of manuscripts in his attic. Fifty years later, it remains as fresh as ever and includes updated facts for the 21st century. This beautiful, retro treasure will delight New Yorkers and tourists of all ages.
Exactly half a century old, this timeless illustrated classic artfully captures the 'Madmen' era New York City through a distinctive and charming mid-century aesthetic. The unique essence of New York City was never more poetically celebrated than in Vladimir Fuka's brilliant, colourful illustrations and collages and Zden?k Mahler's playful accompanying narrative. The authors take us on a charming journey of discovery through the magnificent metropolis' architectural landmarks, cultural hot spots and ethnically diverse neighborhoods - from the high to the low: Wall St to Coney Island, The Guggenheim Museum to Yankees Stadium. Interesting historical fun facts about the city and its inhabitants paint a true picture of everyday New York reality. New York was created in 1964 and first printed in the former Czechoslovakia in 1968 but the entire print run was pulped by the secret police after Fuka escaped to America. The book was finally brought to life when Mahler's grandson discovered a surviving copy under a pile of manuscripts in his attic. Fifty years later, it remains as fresh as ever and includes updated facts for the 21st century. This beautiful, retro treasure will delight New Yorkers and tourists of all ages.
Vladimir Fuka (1926-1977) is a Czech illustrator, graphic artist, painter, and sculptor. In the 1950s and '60s, Fuka created a number of innovative books for both children and adults and has won numerous international awards. Zdenek Mahler is a writer of books for children and adults, and screenplays for theater, film, and television. He was an advisor in the preparations of Milos Forman's film Amadeus and Goya's Ghosts, and has been a writer and moderator of popular educational programs.
“New York: A Mod Portrait is more than a picture book—its is one of
the most imaginative and beautiful travel guides ever written, and
a charming companion for anyone journeying to the Big Apple. While
the illustrations and punchy graphics may serve as a time capsule
taking us back to midcentury NYC, certain elements have been
updated to keep the book relevant—the book now lists the Freedom
Tower…New York A Mod Portrait may be a very playful portrayal of
the city, but the real achievement is how the book really touches
the heart and soul of the city…this book will ignite the same
exhilaration and enchantment felt upon arriving here for the very
first time.” -ArtDaily
"In 1964, Vladimír Fuka captured the brilliance of New York in a
book of drawings. All of the copies were thought to be
destroyed—until now!" -Town & Country
"In 1968, an innocent guidebook fell victim to the Cold War. Its
whimsical drawings and poetic lines devoted to New York City were
destroyed by the Czechoslovakian secret police—all but one
copy, that is. Nearly fifty years later, the grandson of its author
found the original manuscript buried in an old wardrobe, and this
week, it entered American circulation for the first time
ever. What Mahler and his friend, an artist named Vladímir
Fuka, had drafted some 44 years ago was a whimsical, poetic guide
to NYC called, New York: A Mod Portrait of the City." ~Daily
Beast
"The Prague Spring of 1968 left a curious legacy. New York: A Mod
Portrait of the City was a book published in Czechoslovakia in that
year and it is the most adorable book about NYC you've never
seen... Happy ending: next week, it's back in print, slightly
updated." -Manhattan Users Guide
"And so a pretty, 1960s era guidebook to New York is now the
perfect coffee table book." -Gothamist
"Mahler and Fuka's books are particularly well-suited to travel
types as they liked to illustrate the buildings, parks, public
institutions, and people of world cities. New York: A Mod Portrait
of the City is a "found" work." -About.com
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