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The author/translator repeats several phrases and terms adnauseam (e.g. I found this book to be a decent, though flawed, introduction to the topic of German Expressionism: The text is engaging, it covers a wide range of German Expressionist painters and groups, and there are many good color reproductions. This being said I have to agree with most of the other reviewers in saying that the editing and translation is rather poor for a book in wide circulation. "chosen partner"), some of the sentences are awkward and badly constructed, and there are a few editing errors such as on page 127 when the text refers to Gauguin being born in 1853 when it should be Van Gogh. Despite these negative elements the book is still a worthwhile read as it does address such an interesting topic and does a fine job in covering such a large amount of territory
The writing/editing is the disappointing weak point here. Some of the chapters are very badly edited, however. Great book, good illustrations. Other times, terms are dropped or events referenced that have not yet been explained in the text. One repeats the phrase "his illness, from which he never recovered" four times in a short chapter. More typically, they end abruptly with no proper conclusion, as if chopped so as not to exceed space limitations. As an art book, the strength of the art can carry it. But it's a shame that it had to be this way.
I think that there is a good balance between text and images, and the images are of high quality. However, this book and other Taschen books that I have read suffer from poor translation. I work in translation and it appears to me that they did not use a native English speaker to translate from the German, as there are quite a few clunky sentences.
Picture books are nice. but if you want some information too, it'll have to be some text in it, otherwise you might as well buy a postcardbook instead. It is beyond my comprehension that someone here critisizes a book for providing information instead of images only, and this you find plenty in here.
I really hate art books that are all writing, too few images, and this is a classic one of those. Prof. Elger waxes on (and on) about the meaning of the paintings but talks so little about formalistic issues (he is obiviously not a painter nor cares much about the art of painting). I suppose what he says is of interest to some, but as an artist I cared very little for the book.
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