A Curated Selection of 7 Art Books for Your March Reading List

March heralds the approach of reading-in-the-park season, accompanied by a robust selection of new art books to usher in spring. For enthusiasts of the Helen Schjerfbeck exhibition at The Met, the catalog is now available. Additionally, Janie Paul’s work receives a reissue coinciding with a renowned exhibition showcasing artists incarcerated in Michigan prisons. Delving into the supernatural, there are books exploring gender in medieval alchemical imagery and the influence of the occult on the development of modernism. Explore these selections and more to kickstart the season. —Lakshmi Rivera Amin, associate editor.

**Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck**, edited by Dita Amory | Metropolitan Museum of Art, January

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents the evolution of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck, highlighting her significant impact on Europe’s patriarchal art scene. The exhibition and its accompanying catalog offer a deep dive into her transformative journey through self-portraits and essays re-evaluating her previously misunderstood legacy.

**Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ Alphabets** by Morgane Côme | Letterform Archive Books, February

This book caters to history enthusiasts with its comprehensive exploration of French sign-painting and delights visual arts lovers with stunning illustrations from the late 19th to the mid-20th century.

**Pao Houa Her: The Imaginative Landscape**, edited by Lauren Dickens | Inventory Press, San José Museum of Art, and Kohler Arts Center, February

Pao Houa Her’s photo-based work immerses readers in the Hmong diaspora experience, reflecting on community, nostalgia, and the American dream through vivid and imaginative landscapes.

**The Alchemical Feminine: Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Alchemical Images** by M. E. Warlick | Fulgur Press, February

M. E. Warlick’s latest publication uncovers the gendered symbols in alchemical imagery, offering insights into historical roles of women and their representation in medieval and Renaissance art.

**Hidden Modernism: The Fascination with the Occult Around 1900** | Walther König, March

This book examines Vienna at the turn of the century, revealing how the occult influenced artists and movements, shaping modernism globally. It explores the artistic connections between spiritualism, nature, and the avant-garde.

**Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea**, edited by Eliza Rathbone | Rizzoli Electa, March

Accompanying an exhibition, this book explores the artistic connections between Milton Avery, Mark Rothko, and Adolph Gottlieb, offering new perspectives on 20th-century American modern art.

**Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance** by Janie Paul | Hat & Beard Press, reissue

Marking its 30th anniversary, this reissue celebrates the largest exhibition of its kind, featuring art by incarcerated individuals in Michigan. Janie Paul highlights the meaningful and powerful stories behind these artworks.