LONDON.- This stunning catalogue showcases for the first time an outstanding group of modern drawings by European and American masters, assembled by the late Howard Karshan and his wife, Linda, who recently presented the works to The Courtauld. It is one of the most significant gifts of art to The Courtauld in a generation.

Edited by Coralie Malissard and Barnaby Wright.

Accompanying an exhibition at The Courtauld Gallery, Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift features drawings by renowned artists including Paul Cézanne, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Sam Francis, Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter and Georg Baselitz.

The 24 drawings of the Karshan gift are a significant addition to The Courtauld’s collection. The works demonstrate Howard and Linda Karshan’s sensibility for the expressive power and rich variety of drawing as an art form. The drawings are characterised by innovative mark-making and distinctive use of line. Examples range from radical watercolours by Cézanne and highly expressive finger drawings in ink by Louis Soutter, to abstract compositions made by Henri Michaux whilst experimenting with Mescalin to explore the subconscious, and on to works by Twombly that further broadened the possibilities of draughtsmanship.

Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift includes an interview with Linda Karshan, two essays - one by Coralie Malissard and Barnaby Wright and one by Robert Storr - and a fully illustrated catalogue with detailed entries on each work.

Coralie Malissard is the Bridget Riley Art Foundation Curatorial Assistant.

Barnaby Wright is Deputy Head of The Courtauld Gallery and Daniel Katz Curator of 20th Century Art.