MEL RAMOS POP ART IMAGES. 1997.

Koln: Taschen, 1997

18.5 x 22.5cm, 96pp. plus pictorial card covers and French folds with further reproduced colour images after works. First edition of this slightly populist monograph on the artist with numerous reproductions in colour of his cheese cake soft porn pop art images. The text (How Venus came to California by Mel Ramos) is in English and translated into German and French as is Robert Rosenblum’s essay. Biographic notes and exhibition history. Ramos is at his best when he strays from his formulaic practice of painting lovely (if predictable) pneumatic blondes but, then, the works are less commercial and he is forced back into type. Admittedly he does it well if without any irony. Fine.