John Piper || Darren Pih

This nicely-produced and eminently-affordable introduction to John Piper’s work was produced to accompany an exhibition at Tate Liverpool. It stands, nevertheless, on its own and contains a representative selection of pieces that range throughout Piper’s career and includes useful guides to his various periods and artistic directions. If you were looking for a primer rather than a more comprehensive but expensive survey, this would fit the bill very well.

The book is arranged chronologically and moves from the early, quintessentially British landscapes to Piper’s interest in abstraction. It also takes account of his work across a variety of media, including printmaking, ceramics, collage and stained glass and includes his work as a Second World War artist.

With a text that covers writings and interviews, the book provides an insight into not just the works, but also the creative processes behind them and, within its self-imposed limitations, is remarkably complete.

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