One of America’s pre-eminent painters, George Tooker (born 1920) is known for his haunting works that evoke the alienation and anonymity of urban life.

 Working in egg tempera, a Renaissance medium that produces a luminous quality yet requires meticulous application, Tooker first came to prominence as part of the post-war Magic Realist movement, creating surrealistic visions that captured the uncertainty of the Cold War era. Often compared with Hopper and Wyeth, Tooker continues to examine modern life with his disquieting imagery.

This beautifully produced book, published to coincide with the first major retrospective in 30 years, features superb reproductions of Tooker’s timeless paintings, and includes essays offering new perspectives on his passion for composition, his spirituality and his exploration of identity.