Items related to Faces: Paul Davis Portraits
Paul Davis (b. 1938) is one of a handful of artists whose work creates the visual memory of our popular culture. Davis's posters often become the image by which well-known people are forever recalled. Davis renders faces seen countless times on TV and in photographs, yet he captures something that no film, photo or video could every articulate. A Davis portrait delivers more than just what is visible to the eye. By combining realistic technique with highly stylized imagery, he traps some essential aspect of his subject's character. Rather than simply showing what people look like, Davis coaxes their outer appearance to reflect their inner reality. Davis uses an intensely romantic style to achieve his effect. Perhaps his best known poster is the famous Che Guevara done in the 1960s. In real life, Guevara was never so handsome, so compelling. In Davis's portrait he becomes the idealized revolutionary: black halo of beard and berets, the moonstruck, soulful eyes, the defiant yet ironic, almost humorous twist to the surprisingly sensual mouth. More than any other, that poster epitomizes the romantic notion of "revolution" held by American youth in the '60s. Guevara was a soldier, a killer, a skilled guerilla operative. Yet the face is soft, lush and dreamy. Davis often infuses his portraits with this kind of paradox. Davis's faces are soft, yet powerful; sympathetic, yet menacing; inspiring, yet dangerous. That is, fully human. The plump-cheeked tousle-haired innocence of the young grape picker in the classic "Viva la Huelga" poster hints that this boy may have a will and spine of patient iron. Davis achieves similar effects with all those he has painted: Billy Graham, George Orwell, Joan Baez, Timothy Leary, Jack Nicholson, Jimmy Carter, and Meryl Streep. Paul Davis never fails to capture the essential humanity that hides beneath the oversized characters they project.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherRandom House Value Publishing
- Publication date1987
- ISBN 10 0517650878
- ISBN 13 9780517650875
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Faces
Published by
Friendly Press, New York
(1985)
ISBN 10: 0517650878
ISBN 13: 9780517650875
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Edition. Hardcover in dust jacket. White cloth boards, blindstamped title, clean and sharp. Protected, price unclipped, dustjacket crisp and bright. Book is firm in binding, profusely illustrated with color photos of paintings by Davis, many plates, crisp interior. A great lineup of Davis portraits, most notably of Che Guevera and George Orwell but also of many other personages in politics and entertainment. Free of any markings, not ex-library. ; 4to 11" - 13" tall; Unpaginated pages. Seller Inventory # 3635
Buy Used
US$ 47.50
Convert currency
Stock Image
Faces: Paul Davis Portraits
Published by
Random House Value Publishing
(1987)
ISBN 10: 0517650878
ISBN 13: 9780517650875
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description hardcover. Condition: No Dust Jacket. No Cds. Acceptable. book. Seller Inventory # D8F0-0-M-0517650878-2
Buy Used
US$ 67.48
Convert currency