The exhibition Archive of the World: Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800 is accompanied by a major catalogue that represents the first comprehensive study of the LACMA's notable holdings of Spanish American art. The book is exquisitely illustrated with new photography and filled with fresh new scholarship, making the collection more widely known and accessible. Written and edited by Ilona Katzew, curator and department head of Latin American Art at LACMA, this stunning volume also includes a text about the formation of the museum's collection and nearly 100 catalogue entries by various scholars. 

“My goal in building the collection and now putting together this volume has been to show how rich the field is in images and ideas and remind readers of the generative power of the region—all as told through the individual objects,” said Katzew.

Each contribution is conceived as a short, focused essay that offers multiple access points to appreciate the material, aesthetic, and historical aspects of the individual objects. The works’ new and authoritative interpretations are greatly enriched by collaboration with LACMA's Conservation Center, providing a lasting reference in this increasingly influential area of art history. Archive of the World is co-published by LACMA and DelMonico Books/D.A.P. Below is a video of the story that this book tells. 

Visit Archive of the World: Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800, on view through October 30 in the Resnick Pavilion. You can also pick up a copy of the accompanying catalogue at the LACMA Store.