William John Leech: A Master of Light and Color

Born in Dublin in 1881, William John Leech considered himself an Irish painter, though much of his career was spent abroad. He studied at the Académie Julian in Paris and began painting in Brittany in 1903. Early in his career, Leech’s interiors and portraits reflected the tonal influence of Whistler, but by around 1910, his style shifted toward a brighter, Post-Impressionist palette. His later works from Brittany are filled with light and color, often featuring his first wife, Elizabeth Kerlin, as a model in dynamic, experimental pieces such as Convent Garden, Brittany (National Gallery of Ireland).

After World War I, Leech split his time between London and the South of France, accompanied by his companion and later wife, May Botterell. Deeply influenced by French painting, especially the play of light—a hallmark of the Irish Impressionists—Leech continued to explore various styles throughout his career. His body of work includes portraits, landscapes, still lifes, self-portraits, and detailed interiors, with a particular fascination for natural subjects like luxuriant aloes.

Despite regularly exhibiting in Ireland and England, much of Leech’s work remains in private collections and relatively unknown to the public. This retrospective catalogue sheds light on his reclusive life and reaffirms his status as a significant figure in Irish art history.

“Les Dîners de Gala is uniquely devoted to the pleasures of taste… If you are a disciple of one of those calorie-counters who turn the joys of eating into a form of punishment, close this book at once; it is too lively, too aggressive, and far too impertinent for you.” — Salvador Dalí

A master of surrealism both on canvas and at the dining table, Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) brought his eccentric imagination to life in Les Dîners de Gala, the extravagant cookbook first published in 1973. Inspired by the legendary dinner parties he hosted with his muse and wife, Gala (1894–1982), this cookbook is a vibrant blend of art, food, and fantasy—offering readers a front-row seat to Dalí’s culinary wonderland.

Food and surrealism collide in this lavish reprint, which features all 136 recipes spread across 12 decadent chapters, including aphrodisiacs, and adorned with Dalí’s unmistakable illustrations. From sex and lobsters to the whimsical meeting of a swan and a toothbrush atop a pastry case, each page invites readers into a world where culinary art knows no bounds. Dalí’s own musings add flavor to the experience, as he offers eccentric takes on topics like dinner conversation, famously declaring, “The jaw is our best tool to grasp philosophical knowledge.”

The recipes—culled from some of Paris’s most prestigious restaurants like Lasserre, La Tour d’Argent, Maxim’s, and Le Train Bleu—range from extravagant seafood dishes to complex meat courses and rich desserts. While some require skill and a well-stocked pantry, each dish is a tribute to old-school French gastronomy and the art of indulgence.

By making this rare masterpiece accessible once again, TASCHEN presents more than just a cookbook—it’s an immersive work of art, a surreal culinary journey, and a celebration of sensual pleasures. Les Dîners de Gala is an invitation to savor the absurd, the opulent, and the deliciously unforgettable.

Edward Hopper’s New York: An Intimate Look at His Urban Inspiration

Explore Edward Hopper’s deep connection to New York City in this revealing study of his paintings, drawings, prints, and never-before-published archival materials. Known for capturing the quiet complexities of urban life, Hopper (1882–1967) found endless inspiration in the city’s spaces, architecture, and atmosphere, which shaped his distinctive artistic vision.

Through sidewalk strolls and elevated train rides, Hopper sketched New York’s windowed facades, gradually shifting his focus from exterior views to the private moments within. This interplay between public spaces and private lives became a hallmark of his work, reflecting the isolating yet communal nature of city living.

Drawing from the extensive holdings of the Whitney Museum of American Art—the largest repository of Hopper’s work—and the newly acquired Sanborn Hopper Archive, this richly illustrated volume includes over 300 images and fresh perspectives from both leading and emerging scholars. It offers a deeper understanding of Hopper’s relationship with the city that profoundly influenced his art.