cover image The Decorative Art of Today

The Decorative Art of Today

Le Corbusier, Le Corbusier. MIT Press (MA), $13.95 (240pp) ISBN 978-0-262-62055-0

Published to celebrate the centennial of Le Corbusier's birth, this volume about design is one of four books based on articles by the architect that appeared in L'Esprit Nouveau, a magazine he edited with Paul Dermee beginning in 1920. Objecting to the great use of ornament in his day, Le Corbusier sets forth here to attack its excesses. The author discusses specific aspects of decorative art or design. For example, ""Iconology, Iconolaters, Iconoclasts'' deals with ornaments' references to wealth, pomp and majesty, while ``Plagiarism, Folk Culture'' concerns the imitation of authentic folk designs. Presented in a relaxed and personable manneralthough with some abrupt shifts in the textthis book is reminiscent of a notebook and is accompanied by helpful illustrations. (May)