Kunstbok

Kunstbok is a term used in Dutch and Norwegian to denote a book about the visual arts. In practice, a kunstbok can be an artist monograph, an exhibition catalog, or a thematic survey, and it may be published for collectors, academics, museums, or general readers. The core feature is the use of images—often high-quality reproductions—paired with scholarly or interpretive writing.

Contents of a kunstbok typically include image plates with captions, essays by critics or historians, biographical notes, chronology, and a bibliography. Many titles are produced by museums, galleries, universities, or publishing houses that specialize in art and culture. The term covers both comprehensive scholarly volumes and more accessible coffee-table books, as well as artist-produced books that accompany installations or projects.

Historically, kunstbok mirrors the broader art-book tradition in Dutch and Scandinavian contexts, spanning historical surveys to contemporary critical writing. The format has evolved with advances in printing and digital media, leading to bilingual editions, online catalogs, and e-book variants while preserving the emphasis on visual presentation and contextual analysis. In everyday use, a kunstbok aims to provide a coherent visual and textual guide to a particular artist, movement, or collection.

See also: art book, artist's book, exhibition catalog, artist monograph.