Yale University Press commissioned us to design Courbet’s Landscapes: The Origins of Modern Painting by Paul Galvez. This groundbreaking book re-evaluates Gustave Courbet’s landscapes painted between 1862 and 1866, a body of work long overshadowed by his scenes of rural French life but later recognised as a precursor to Impressionism.
Our role
We designed the cover and internal layouts, working closely with Yale University Press to create a visual framework that reflected both Galvez’s scholarship and Courbet’s radical approach to painting.
Bringing scholarship and art into dialogue
Our design uses bold typography and generous image handling to give Courbet’s sensual landscapes the presence they deserve. Full-page reproductions sit alongside Galvez’s critical writing, with layouts structured to create space for close analysis while immersing the reader in Courbet’s work.
Impact
By re-framing Courbet’s landscapes as a turning point in modern painting, the book brings fresh attention to a neglected chapter of art history. Our design ensures that Galvez’s scholarship and Courbet’s paintings work hand-in-hand to position this study as an essential contribution to nineteenth-century art.
“Studio Noel produce outstanding work with flair and expertise – collaborating on projects with them is always an effortless pleasure. They are accommodating, enthusiastic, and incredibly professional, with a natural eye for design.”
Yale University Press
