What do you think?
Rate this book
Sowa's Ark
A new edition of this wonderful book! 55 paintings by Michael Sowa from his famous Diving Pig to the puzzling Man Table Fish. Sowa's art evokes wonder and amazement; a mix of surrealism and comic illustration, of humor and seriousness. His art has been compared to Magritte and Vermeer. This book is a must have for art lovers and Sowa followers.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
106 people want to read
About the author
Michael Sowa
45 books7 followersMichael Sowa is a German artist known mainly for his paintings, which are variously whimsical, surreal, or stunning. His paintings often feature animals and are titled in English and German. His art is widely available as posters, notecards, postcards, and calendars.
Sowa studied at the Berlin State School of Fine Arts for seven years and worked briefly as an art teacher before focusing entirely on his career as a painter and illustrator. A book of 50 paintings titled Sowa's Ark: An Enchanted Bestiary was published in 1996. He also illustrated Esterhazy, The Rabbit Prince by Irene Dische and Hans M. Enzensberger. He is the illustrator of The Little King December and A Bear Called Sunday, both authored by Axel Hacke.
He was the cover artist for several albums, including Mad Season by Matchbox Twenty and two covers for The Beautiful South's Miaow and for their single "Everybody's Talkin'."
He gained new followers for his work on the 2001 film Amélie where his art on the walls comes to life. Sowa contributes illustrations to the satirical German magazine, Titanic, and he also did the art work for magazine covers of several well-known periodicals, most notably the December 2, 2002 issue of The New Yorker.
from Wikipedia
Sowa studied at the Berlin State School of Fine Arts for seven years and worked briefly as an art teacher before focusing entirely on his career as a painter and illustrator. A book of 50 paintings titled Sowa's Ark: An Enchanted Bestiary was published in 1996. He also illustrated Esterhazy, The Rabbit Prince by Irene Dische and Hans M. Enzensberger. He is the illustrator of The Little King December and A Bear Called Sunday, both authored by Axel Hacke.
He was the cover artist for several albums, including Mad Season by Matchbox Twenty and two covers for The Beautiful South's Miaow and for their single "Everybody's Talkin'."
He gained new followers for his work on the 2001 film Amélie where his art on the walls comes to life. Sowa contributes illustrations to the satirical German magazine, Titanic, and he also did the art work for magazine covers of several well-known periodicals, most notably the December 2, 2002 issue of The New Yorker.
from Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 9, 2022
I am currently reading as many of Nick Bantok’s books as I can possibly get my hands on. This is a picture book containing the art of German illustrator Michael Sowa. I requested it from the library because Nick Bantok wrote the preface for the book. I was a little surprised to find the art inside is familiar from my college days in the early 90’s. Back then I began collecting postcards of the illustrations of Michael Sowa, an artist I knew nothing about. And here they are, nearly 30 years later.
I think Bantok’s preface is pretty weak but the art is still crazy good. I can see how he would have been the right person to write the preface at the time but he gives no insight into Sowa’s surrealist works. No matter. I am happy to be reunited.
I think Bantok’s preface is pretty weak but the art is still crazy good. I can see how he would have been the right person to write the preface at the time but he gives no insight into Sowa’s surrealist works. No matter. I am happy to be reunited.
December 27, 2023
Gary Larson's The Far Side meets Graeme Base, Chris Van Allsburg or perhaps David Wiesner... original artwork is in German, if you can read it. Otherwise, there is a translated caption. A free borrow from OpenLibrary. NB: not fantastical creatures, but fantastical representations of extant critters (mini miniature pigs, a menacing giant rabbit on page 66 that I loved, and strange daydreaming of cats and dogs, and a moth on a leash..)
July 6, 2018
Finally. After searching for 17 years I found this book. 💗
December 3, 2018
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh love these! wish some that were detail panels had corresponding full reproductions. the atmosphere of these paintings is so intense.
January 4, 2019
For all ages. German illustrator astounds you as he combines styles from Vermeer, the Absurdists, Dadaism, and Titian.
September 13, 2021
The beasts are about!
December 31, 2022
Hopperian
January 29, 2009
beautiful. I love the rabbits schelping around the city
February 27, 2010
humourous fine art--
July 26, 2010
Charming and fanciful artwork. I want to own a couple of his pieces. I never got a hold of the actual book, but I have scoured the internet looking for all of the art in it. Does that count? :)
October 14, 2011
A hilarious collection of surreal illustrations. This artist's work was used on the set of the French film "Amelie".
November 24, 2015
One of my favorite artists. The pictures are fanciful and intriguing. I find them absolutely delightful.
November 10, 2012
Simply breath-taking illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews