How could I have lived for over 50 years before ever hearing of Maria Helena Vieira da Silva? Such events provide much evidence to support the theory that malign spirits guide our destinies.
This Portugese-French expressionist (actually closer to Tachisme and Surrealism) has created some wonderful paintings that would, to my mind, qualify her to be the official painter of LibraryThing. Take a look at this, entitled "Bibliotheque" 1949, one of many paintings depicting the infinite universes contained in libraries.

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Vieira da Silva has said: "When I paint a landscape or a seascape, I'm not very sure it's a landscape or a seascape. It's a thought form rather than a realistic form."
I give this volume only 4 stars simply because, although Taschen has done an admirable job in its production, and Gisela Rosenthal certainly does much better than most in providing commentary, I can imagine a much more splendid book that would truly do justice to this creator of masterpieces. I will make it my quest to seek out and find. ( )