Arts and crafts of Tamilnadu /

Tamilnadu, the southernmost province of India, has one of the richest traditions in arts and crafts of any region in the world. This splendid book, itself an example of craftsmanship that approaches art, examines the textiles, bronzes, metalware, terra-cottas, paintings, carvings and other crafts of this rich culture. The text, by a prominent Indian scholar working out of Madras, is refreshingly straightforward and clear, eschewing the stiff formalism that plagues many otherwise valuable art books and journal articles. The dozens of photographs, all in color, are of the highest quality both in concept and reproduction. In addition to arts and crafts, there are frequent photographs of craftsmen and craftswomen producing their wares. The intrinsic quality of some of the works shown, particularly paintings and sculptures, might easily be debated; however, as a broad view of an active traditional culture, this book has few peers. Undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and general readers. T. B. Hoffman; University of South Florida