Enchanting Modern: Ilonka Karasz (1896-1981)

Ilonka Karasz's graphic works deserve full page presentation - particularly considering the small format of this book, but some are shown only in thumbnails, which is ridiculous for such complex compositions. Others are given their own page, but mysteriously and annoyingly take up less than half the space. There are some beautiful full page presentations of her graphics, but not nearly enough. In fact the general quality of the book - i.e., paper, binding, color reproduction - is very good, but the design choices are erratic, and do not do justice to Karasz's work. I was very disappointed in it.

I am thrilled to see an acknowledgment of Mme. Karasz' creative contributions in book form. When she was eighty-two (she was still teaching and working), I spent two years in two-month increments with her, using her design system. (I think there's another book to be written about the "language of design" and the way she "saw" and her masterful way of working with students.) After long periods(sometimes 12-16 hours)of quiet, intensive work together, we had toasts of a grand Hungarian sherry she always brought with her from New York. If I had a bottle of whatever it was, I would toast you for this book. C. Harrison (San Rafael, CA)

This book tells an abbreviated story of Ilonka Karasz Nyland's full and interesting life. It also shows examples of her design and fine art and craft work. In a time when fashions and styles change yearly, or more often, it's good to have a chance to savor the work of an artist for whom ancient principles and modern creativity went hand in hand. For example, in a quotation from an interview (cited on page 128) she defines inspiration as "a moment of contact with another reality, the moment when everything at once falls into its proper place; when, as it were, the entire structure appears, and every part is seen to be related to the whole." And she then refers to the Neolithic cave paintings and the eight-century temple paintings of Java. Ms. Callahan has indeed performed a good deed in bringing this book to life.

A monograph on this seminole female modernist was long overdue. Well researched, documented and illustrated; it is the most concise and informative treatise on a woman who both influenced and shaped the beginnings of American Modernism. Many thanks to Ms. Callahan for bringing out the first work on this artist/designer and making it a worthwhile endeavor, not a rush to market to fill a niche. Thanks.