Body Decoration: A World Survey of Body Art

by Karl Gröning

This unrivalled collection of striking photographs traces more than ten thousand years of cultural history - from the body painting of stone-age peoples to the self-inflicted piercing of punks and the enduring image of the carnival clown in modern industrial society - illustrating an art form that is finding new relevance in the world of today. To set the plates in context, a distinguished team of art historians, ethnologists and archaeologists has provided enlightening commentaries which document the development of an extraordinarily broad spectrum of body painting, tattooing and scarring techniques.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Anna L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and beautifully illustrated summary of face and body painting, tattooing and scarification traditions from every part of the world. Just the right amount of detail to explain the whats and the whys.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

STUNNING BOOK! Multicultural and diverse, I would totally recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation of art and/or the world!