Art from the very first line: ARTIKA’s exclusive approach

ARTIKA editions bring to light sketches, studies and drawings that hold the keys to the creative process of artists like Antoni Gaudí, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero and many others. That is why our books offer an exclusive journey into the origins of great artistic movements.

Lines that change the history of art

Museums are home to every possible kind of artwork, but we don’t usually get to see how ideas take shape. In this sense, ARTIKA editions uncover things that are not always available to the public, from sketchbooks to private drawings.

An artist’s personality can be captured in a few lines in pencil on paper, as can be seen in the more than 60 drawings included in Mon cher Théo. This edition features Vincent van Gogh’s letters to his brother, comprising important surviving body of correspondence by an artist.

Another notable ARTIKA initiative was La mirada de Vincent, which reproduces the entirety of the artist’s sketchbooks currently exhibited at the Van Gogh Museum. Those fortunate enough to own one of these now out-of-print editions can privately admire the original and expressive style of one of the world’s biggest names in art.

Drawings that reveal dreams and desires

From the earliest cave paintings to contemporary masterpieces, drawing has played a pivotal role in the development of all expressive techniques. It is the cornerstone on which all artistic creation is built and the framework that supports a work of art. However, drawings also document often overlooked aspects of an artist’s legacy.

Could we know how Frida Kahlo felt and thought without her drawings, many of which were discovered after her death? Only a few dozen of them have survived, and they are now compiled in The dreams of Frida Kahlo. Many of the originals on paper have disappeared, while others have been scattered and placed in collections that are not always accessible.

Left: Atomic bomb, 1951. Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection of Mexican art of the 20th century and Vergel Foundation. ©Photo: Gerardo Suter.

Right: The accident, 1926. Juan Coronel collection. © Foto: Rafael Doniz

© 2021 Banco de México Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo Museums Trust. Av. 5 de Mayo No. 2, col. Center, alc. Cuauhtémoc, p.c. 06000, Mexico City

Anyone who wants to truly understand the soul and roots of Fernando Botero should also take a closer look at his drawings. In the words of the master: "Drawing is the soul of your work, the artist’s identity, it says everything". Hence the importance of Botero’s Women and Vía Crucis, two art books that encapsulate the essence of the Colombian painter and sculptor.

See, feel and understand through drawings

Artists use drawing as a tool to hone their technical skills and explore different concepts. They often make preliminary sketches before beginning a painting or sculpture as a way to visualise and organise their ideas.

When it comes to great artists, a drawing transcends it origins, taking on a life of its own with clearly defined aesthetic values. Not only are do these drawings serve as the basis for the development of other forms of art, but they also reveal unprecedented aspects of an artist's style.

An edition like Los paisajes de Sorolla reveals how the painter was able to draw on his sketches, which are kept in the Sorolla Museum, to develop his spontaneous and personal style. Our edition of Jaume Plensa 61 also includes a volume entitled Notes and annotations, which includes sketches, lists and abstract ideas that open the door to the artist's creative process.

Drawing transcends eras and styles

ARTIKA’s limited editions cover a rich tapestry of artistic visions, reflected in a catalogue that includes everything from The Theatre. Toulouse-Lautrec to Gaudí Up Close (both now out of print). The former documents how the French artist’s drawings openly captured bohemian life. His direct, unpretentious approach marked the birth of avant-garde art in the 20th century.

Our exploration of Antoni Gaudí and his art is the result of research that revealed the architect’s most unknown legacy: his drawings. It therefore offers, for the first time, the opportunity to get a glimpse into the boundless imagination of this genius of the Modernism.

Pablo Picasso said that it only took him four years to learn to draw like Raphael, but a lifetime to draw like a child. As kids, we all draw to while away the time, but only true artists master the art of drawing to not only capture the moment, but to capture universal emotions.

Today, we are fascinated by how much a great artist can express with the simplest of strokes. It is this fascination that drives us at ARTIKA, as we strive to unveil the unique and exclusive journey of how masterpieces are born.