T. G. Rosenthal - Paula Rego: the complete graphic work - 2012

A Landmark Monograph on Paula Rego’s Graphic Mastery

This is the first monograph dedicated exclusively to Paula Rego’s graphic work—lavishly produced with 491 reproductions in both color and tritone. Following in the footsteps of masters like Dürer and Rembrandt, Rego harnesses the print medium to unleash her imagination, creating etchings and lithographs that are as unsettling, erotic, and powerful as her celebrated paintings.

Spanning half a century (1954–2003), the volume presents over 200 works, including previously unpublished pieces. Rego’s prints often evolve in thematic series, each image sparking the next. Among them are her Nursery Rhymes, a darkly humorous exploration of childhood struggles populated by precocious girls and vividly characterized animals. The Peter Pan series (1992) reveals her layered narratives and emotional depth, while Pendle Witches—a collaboration with poet Blake Morrison—shows the synergy between visual and literary imagination, itself inspired by her haunting Children’s Crusade.

The monograph concludes with her most recent portfolio of lithographs, loosely inspired by *Jane Eyre*, offering a new perspective on Brontë’s classic. A definitive celebration of Rego’s artistry, this book is both an academic resource and a visual feast, capturing the unsettling beauty and narrative depth of one of the most compelling artists of our time.