Edward Hopper (1882-1967) is something of an American success story, if only his success had come swifter. At the age of 40, he was a failing artist who struggled to sell a single painting. As he approached 80, Time magazine featured him on its cover. Today, Hopper is considered a giant of modern expression, with an uncanny, unforgettable, and utterly distinct sense for mood and place. Much of Hopper's work excavates modern city experience. In canvas after canvas, he depicts diners, cafes, shopfronts, street lights, gas stations, rail stations, and hotel rooms. Compartment Car sees a lone woman reading, lonely guest houses and barns, House by the Railroad, a circus clown dining, and the famous Night Windows with a stooping semi naked women in the lit interior of a room begging the question of what she has been up to. Naked A Woman in the Sun smokes and stares out of a window and the famous Nighthawks is given a huge double colour page spread. The scenes are marked by vivid colour juxtapositions and stark, theatrical lighting, as well as by harshly contoured figures, who appear at once part of, and alien to, their surroundings. The ambiance throughout his repertoire is of an eerie disquiet, alienation, loneliness and psychological tension, although his rural or coastal scenes can offer a counterpoint of tranquillity or optimism. This book presents major works from Hopper's oeuvre to introduce a key player in American art history and the American psyche. 21 x 26cm, 96 pages new from Taschen.

A beautiful woman in bra, jodhpurs and riding boots kneels on a luxurious bed wearing a saddle on her back; a naked Gianni Versace on a leopard skin chaise longue; Raquel Welch in a revealing white swimsuit with a black dog; Rene Russo dancing with a woman on a mountain top - Helmut Newton's unforgettable images, at once sophisticated and provocative, constitute a rich and ever-relevant artistic legacy. This book presents a compact but wide-ranging and impactful portfolio of his work, supported by an insightful introduction and a detailed biographical chronology and a unique perspective is effectively showcased, reflecting the complex undercurrents that give his images their distinct character across the breadth of his editorial work in the fields of fashion and portraiture. At once voyeur and satirist, his lens framed contentious yet pivotal aspects of high fashion and high society in the latter decades of the 20th century. He worked as a "gun for hire" while imposing his own perspectives and obsessions, defining most notably his idea of a powerful, self-assured woman. This figure became his most insistent theme, developed in erotically charged scenarios, most typically set in the seductive environment of opulent apartments or grand hotels, most notably in Paris, Monte Carlo, and Los Angeles. From the mid-60s, Newton's dynamic images established his reputation in leading magazines, among them Vogue Paris, Elle, Marie Claire, Nova, Queen, and British Vogue. From the mid-70s his notoriety was extended through his first books and exhibitions. His images immortalise such luminaries of society, film, and fashion as Princess Caroline of Monaco, Charlotte Rampling, Paloma Picasso and Karl Lagerfeld. 14 x 19.5cm, 192 pages. New from Taschen.

In Animals, we discover a different side to the famed photographer who skillfully explores animals' complex relationship with humans and the environment. Tenderness abounds, particularly in scenes of unkempt street dogs sleeping contentedly next to a human. But there's also a kind of essential solitude, with animals belonging to no one and simply wandering through life with only their survival instincts to guide them. See the goat balanced on his owner's back, a wild horse at dawn beside a lake-filled canyon, family pets and cheeky otters and chimps, a beautiful Arabian woman in Dubai with her hawk, an Ethiopian tribe dancing with the dog and a Tibetan monk holding his goose. We witness camels caught in the crossfire during the first Gulf War, a shepherd from Northern Pakistan tenderly feeding his goats, Beverly Hills designer dogs, racehorses on a Hong Kong rooftop, elephants in Thailand and more images selected by ace photographer Steve McCurry from his vast archives. From an elephant resting with his master to a dog led through the rubbles of Kabul, these images by Steve McCurry tell a thousand stories, each a touching tribute to the creatures who share our planet. The photographer presents his favourite shots of animals in this collection ranging from many images from Afghanistan, Asia to South America, the United States to Europe. This kaleidoscopic collection is at once a beautiful travelogue and a touching tribute to the creatures who share our planet. Compact 14 x 19.5 cm, 192 pages, stunning colour. New from Taschen.