Art books publishing has long been a rarified field, a niche within a niche with a rich tapestry of extraordinary houses known by a select few. Over the past century, only a few of these houses have succeeded at becoming brands – though one stands out: Taschen, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
.
Founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen, the company started out as a comic book publisher before expanding into fashion, art, photography, film, design, advertising, architecture and, most famously, erotica. In 1999, Taschen made headlines when it released Helmut Newton’s SUMO, a lavishly oversized volume of the master’s work so vast that it came with its own stand designed by Phillippe Starck. Priced at $1500, the critics gasped – but industry insiders knew Taschen was on the cutting edge when they pre-sold 70 per cent of the 10,000 copy print run.
.
With its exquisite mix of high production values and clean design, Taschen books are for everyone, with prices starting at £10. But it’s what’s beneath the covers that counts. Sexy Book Editor Dian Hanson, who has been on staff since 2001, quotes Benedikt Taschen’s ethos with pride: “There is no forbidden art. There is good art and bad art and we will not publish bad art no matter what the subject, and we will publish all good art no matter what the subject.”
.
It’s a sentiment that has guided Hanson beginning with her very first Taschen book, Naked as a Jaybird, a collection of photographs taken from Jaybird, a 1960-70s porn magazine that capitalised the decriminalisation of nudist photography in the United States. The magazine’s timeline mirrors Hanson’s own singular path, one that is worthy of a Hollywood biopic in its own right.
.
Read the Full Story at AnOther
.
