The Raptors and Other Birds

Leonard Baskin's portraits of the eerie intersection between daydream and nightmare and between the human and animal worlds have made him one of the artistic masters of our time, and nowhere is his hold on us tighter than in his darkly gripping birds. The Raptors brings together nearly seventy images that span three full decades of work. Here are his sinister birds of prey whose menacing forms remind us of the primitive in us all. Here are his haunting bird-humans, beckoning us with sharp talons as they flex their muscled wings and legs. Here as well are the delicate loon and snowy owl, whose meticulous execution testifies to Baskin's skill as an observer and interpreter of nature. Joining these classic figures from Baskin's oeuvre is a mesmerizing new series, the Raptors. Fragile watercolors and fierce, bold pen-and-ink drawings capture the extraordinary range, vigor, intensity, and subtle sophistication of Baskin's eye and hand. This is a ravishing portfolio of masterpieces to cap a much-heralded career.

Preface by S. Dillon Ripley. Includes a bonus print of The Raptors, No. 14.

Clothbound hardcover book in excellent condition. Dust jacket shows fading and wear.