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Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism
A Jules Verne world of extraordinary visions and contraptions as portrayed by the top 30 artists in the genre.
Steampunk is a resurgent art, cult, and lowbrow movement celebrating the romantic elegance of the Victorian era and blending in modern scientific advances—synthesizing imaginative technologies such as steam-driven robots, analog supercomputers, and ultramodern dirigibles. Celebrating the elegant and the strange, the visually arresting steampunk works collected here include sculpture, installations, graphics, bizarre oils, and mind-warping contraptions—from skull cameras to rocket-fueled diving bells.
Featured artists: Tom Banwell, Wayne Martin Belger, Greg Brotherton, Frank Buchwald, Chris Conte, Doktor A., Eric Freitas, Dr. Grordbort, Stéphane Halleux, Mike Libby, Pierre Matter, Kevin Mowrer, Kazuhiko Nakamura, James Ng, Sam Van Olffen, Nozomu Shibata, Haru Suekichi, Brian Poor, and Daniel Proulx.
Steampunk is a resurgent art, cult, and lowbrow movement celebrating the romantic elegance of the Victorian era and blending in modern scientific advances—synthesizing imaginative technologies such as steam-driven robots, analog supercomputers, and ultramodern dirigibles. Celebrating the elegant and the strange, the visually arresting steampunk works collected here include sculpture, installations, graphics, bizarre oils, and mind-warping contraptions—from skull cameras to rocket-fueled diving bells.
Featured artists: Tom Banwell, Wayne Martin Belger, Greg Brotherton, Frank Buchwald, Chris Conte, Doktor A., Eric Freitas, Dr. Grordbort, Stéphane Halleux, Mike Libby, Pierre Matter, Kevin Mowrer, Kazuhiko Nakamura, James Ng, Sam Van Olffen, Nozomu Shibata, Haru Suekichi, Brian Poor, and Daniel Proulx.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2011
296 people want to read
About the author
Jay Strongman
3 books2 followersJay Strongman has always been involved in the underground elements of popular culture, both as a journalist and a participant. His writing credits include articles in The Sunday Times, The Face, i-D, Vogue and the New Musical Express. In 1979 Jay opened London’s first neo-rockabilly store before beginning a legendary career as a DJ and spending much of the ’80s and ’90s gigging around the world; he was the first Western DJ to play a warehouse party in the former Soviet Union. In 1997 he helped set up the UK’s first tiki clothing and record store. Jay currently lives in southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 5, 2013
Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism--An Amazing Book!
If you love Steampunk or want to know more about it, get this book.
Have you ever bought a book and wanted to show it to everyone? Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism is that kind of book.
Yesterday, while doing "face time" with my daughter, I was showing her the pictures. I flipped through the pages as she leaned closer to her phone to see on the small screen. I'm sure she wasn't getting the full effect, but my excitement spurred her to squint and admire.
So, why is the book so great?
Four reasons:
First and foremost, the pictures and illustrations. I'd estimate the book devotes two thirds of its pages to excellent, high quality photographs. I've included three in the post so you can have a little taste of what you'll get.
It does a good job of exploring the literary roots of Steampunk, including a run down of authors who influenced the literary movement. I enjoyed the pictures of magazine covers from the old pulp-fiction writing of the 1800s.
There's good coverage of early, middle, and contemporary Steampunk authors. I sometimes found the prose a little dull, but over all it held my interest.
It addresses the sub-cultures that have emerged from the Steampunk literary movement: writers, books, magazines, fashion, art, cosplay, craftsmanship, music, conferences and exhibits.
I expected The Art of Victorian Futurism to focus on the art, but the book went beyond my expectations. I have to give Jay Strongman kudos for selecting and showcasing excellent photographs and illustrations. Also, in the early chapters, he gives detailed background information on Steampunk's beginnings and the movement's progress up to 2011. He managed to be at once brief and detailed, a nice balance, which allowed him to devote much of the book to art.
I recently reviewed another Steampunk book: The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer. The strength of Vandermeer's book is that it devotes more space to the Steampunk movement in all its facets. There are some lovely pictures as well, but the emphasis on Steampunk history, development, and current trends provides a solid knowledge base for anyone interested in the movement. I think the two books complement each other and provide a nice Steampunk library.
I don’t often give a book a 5 star rating. This deserves top rating.
If you love Steampunk or want to know more about it, get this book.
Have you ever bought a book and wanted to show it to everyone? Steampunk: The Art of Victorian Futurism is that kind of book.
Yesterday, while doing "face time" with my daughter, I was showing her the pictures. I flipped through the pages as she leaned closer to her phone to see on the small screen. I'm sure she wasn't getting the full effect, but my excitement spurred her to squint and admire.
So, why is the book so great?
Four reasons:
First and foremost, the pictures and illustrations. I'd estimate the book devotes two thirds of its pages to excellent, high quality photographs. I've included three in the post so you can have a little taste of what you'll get.
It does a good job of exploring the literary roots of Steampunk, including a run down of authors who influenced the literary movement. I enjoyed the pictures of magazine covers from the old pulp-fiction writing of the 1800s.
There's good coverage of early, middle, and contemporary Steampunk authors. I sometimes found the prose a little dull, but over all it held my interest.
It addresses the sub-cultures that have emerged from the Steampunk literary movement: writers, books, magazines, fashion, art, cosplay, craftsmanship, music, conferences and exhibits.
I expected The Art of Victorian Futurism to focus on the art, but the book went beyond my expectations. I have to give Jay Strongman kudos for selecting and showcasing excellent photographs and illustrations. Also, in the early chapters, he gives detailed background information on Steampunk's beginnings and the movement's progress up to 2011. He managed to be at once brief and detailed, a nice balance, which allowed him to devote much of the book to art.
I recently reviewed another Steampunk book: The Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer. The strength of Vandermeer's book is that it devotes more space to the Steampunk movement in all its facets. There are some lovely pictures as well, but the emphasis on Steampunk history, development, and current trends provides a solid knowledge base for anyone interested in the movement. I think the two books complement each other and provide a nice Steampunk library.
I don’t often give a book a 5 star rating. This deserves top rating.
November 10, 2011
I feel a little bit tricked by the description on the back cover. There is actually only 50 pages of text followed by over a hundred pages of photos of artists that have created Steampunk sculptures and drawings. These sculptures and drawings were interesting, but I do admit to skimming because it wasn't really what I was after.
However, what text there was proved to be a fascinating read and quite insightful into the appeal of the Steampunk movement. Especially since I had not heard of Steampunk before reading Gail Carriger's Parason Protectorate series a few months ago.
I just felt a little bit disappointed that the description talks of people from all walks of life and creative outlets that were drawn to Steampunk and yet only one form of art is presented in these pages. Where was a mention of the plethora of novels written, perhaps some of the interesting covers of these books? What about some of the many bands they mentioned or the fashion designers?
Perhaps it all came down to copyrights and licencing agreements but it would have made this a much more well rounded exploration of Steampunk as a movement.
However, what text there was proved to be a fascinating read and quite insightful into the appeal of the Steampunk movement. Especially since I had not heard of Steampunk before reading Gail Carriger's Parason Protectorate series a few months ago.
I just felt a little bit disappointed that the description talks of people from all walks of life and creative outlets that were drawn to Steampunk and yet only one form of art is presented in these pages. Where was a mention of the plethora of novels written, perhaps some of the interesting covers of these books? What about some of the many bands they mentioned or the fashion designers?
Perhaps it all came down to copyrights and licencing agreements but it would have made this a much more well rounded exploration of Steampunk as a movement.
July 31, 2011
Everything I said about the other steampunk art book applies here. there are more pages in this book, it is therefore better, it also has an artist from maine
August 15, 2011
This is mainly a compendium of current artists making steampunk-inspired pieces in various media. It engages fairly minimally with the literary genre.
July 24, 2016
Best book about Steampunk!!!
February 12, 2023
The photographs were gorgeous. This would be a great book for someone wanting to know about the steampunk trend. I’d call it a beautiful coffee table book.
June 10, 2012
I cannot say enough about this amazing artform. You cannot help but be lost in it's visual and textual allure. Shout out to a few on the Canadian artists based out of Montreal. Amazing jewelry, sculpture, and a mechanized skull-like version of King Tut that is awesome. Feast for the eyes I want to climb into the pages and disappear. Mostly photographs with very short bios. Predict this will be the next big movement.
November 27, 2011
This book is full of beautiful pictures.
May 7, 2012
I love steampunk art but some it really freaks me out.
July 26, 2012
Wonderful depiction of the genre. Visual feast.
August 17, 2012
One third good read and two thirds good look, Strongman collected some great stuff...enough that I'll forgive his adulation of Gibson's and Sterling's The Difference Engine.
August 7, 2012
Cool Book. Explains what the Steampunk era of art and literature is about and shares alot of other artists work. Also shares authors who helped shape the era of literature.
October 25, 2012
Love the art in this book!! Check it out
December 29, 2013
Great pictures for referencing..
December 30, 2014
Stars: 4
I thought it was really cool :)
I thought it was really cool :)
January 14, 2016
Really beautiful book. Great as a present to the Steampunk lover in your life!
April 16, 2016
Uneven in quality. I think the best part was the introduction on the history of steampunk and its antecedents.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews