A Swarm, A Flock, A Host: A Compendium of Creatures

For information on the fine art portfolio edition, please visit the Achenbach Graphic Arts Council at www.achenbach.org or call 415-750-3676.
A collaboration between a contemporary painter and an award-winning poet, this twenty-first-century bestiary is a spellbinding artistic meditation on the mystery and diversity of the animal kingdom.
Originating in the Middle Ages, bestiaries were illuminated volumes that described various animals—some real, some mystical. The natural history and illustration of each beast were usually accompanied by a moral lesson. In this beautifully illustrated book, painter Darren Waterston and poet Mark Doty come together to breathe new life into the medieval genre. Waterston’s lush and haunting silhouettes depict species from insect and bird to mammal, captured in motion as they hunt their prey, build their nests, or protect their young. Accompanying the illustrations are Doty’s poetic observations on the animal world—its panoply of sounds and shapes, its dignity, and its cruelty. Lovers of art, animals, and poetry will delight in this elegant volume that captures nature’s exquisite and terrible beauty.