Walton Ford (born 1960 in Larchmont, New York) is an American artist who makes paintings and prints in the style of naturalist illustrations, often depicting extinct species. Each of his paintings is a meticulous, realistic study in flora and fauna, and is filled with symbols, clues, and jokes referencing texts ranging from colonial literature, to folktales, to travel guides. The paintings are complex allegorical narratives that critique the history of colonialism, industrialism, politics, natural science, and humanity’s effect on the environment.

I came across this giant hardcover volume while browsing at the excellent Tsutaya Books in Ginza last year. The huge print size and high technical quality of Walton Ford’s paintings certainly left an impression, but as I browsed further into the book I realized this is not simply an accomplished visual documentation of wildlife art but something deeper and more subversive.

It will require a certain amount of effort in reading the prose to fully understand some of the less obvious allegories, but the sheer visual impact of the artist’s subject matter is what impresses me the most; each of his art work is meticulously framed and set dressed like a glamorous fashion shoot, and his use of colors is more than astute.

I have included some bigger preview images with close-ups in my post below for a better appreciation of the quality of the prints; the small images do little justice to the excellent reproductions and seeing the book in person gives it a markedly improved experience.

Book synopsis – At first glance, Walton Ford’s large-scale, highly detailed watercolors of animals recall the prints of 19th-century illustrators John James Audubon and Edward Lear. A closer look reveals a complex and disturbingly anthropomorphic universe, full of symbols, sly jokes, and allusions to the ‘operatic’ quality of traditional natural history.

In this stunning but sinister visual universe, beasts and birds are not mere aesthetic objects but dynamic actors in allegorical struggles: a wild turkey crushes a small parrot in its claw; a troupe of monkeys wreaks havoc on a formal dinner table; an American buffalo is surrounded by bloodied white wolves. In dazzling watercolor, the images impress as much for their impeccable realism as they do for their complex narratives.

First available as a signed and limited volume, this updated edition of Pancha Tantra is the most comprehensive survey of Ford’s oeuvre to date, with 40 new works, more than 120 additional pages, and a new essay by the artist. It features dazzling details, an in-depth exploration of his visual universe, a complete biography, and excerpts from his textual inspirations: from Indian folktales and the letters of Benjamin Franklin to the Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini and Audubon’s Ornithological Biography.

This book will likely be the first entry for my annual favorite art books post that I write at the end of 2024, and I am very happy to have discovered the amazing work of Walton Ford. This big hardcover volume by Taschen is of superb quality and is just perfect for enjoying the artist’s splendid art work. Very highly recommended.

There is also a $2000 signed edition that comes in an even bigger format as well as a smaller edition of the book available.

“Walton Ford – Pancha Tantra (updated edition)” book details :

– Dimensions – 11.25 x 2 x 14.5 inches
– Hardcover, 424 pages
– Full color

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