Ana Lucia Araujo Livres

Florence Knoll (1917–2019) was a leading force of modern design. She worked from 1945 to 1965 at Knoll Associates, first as business partner with her husband Hans Knoll, later as president after his death, and, finally, as design director. Her commissions became hallmarks of the modern era, including the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, the Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia, and the Platner Collection by Warren Platner. She created classics like the Parallel Bar Collection, still in production today.Knoll invented the visual language of the modern office through her groundbreaking interiors and the creation of the acclaimed "Knoll look," which remains a standard for interior design today. She reinvigorated the International Style through humanizing textiles, lighting, and accessories. Although Knoll's motto was "no compromise, ever," as a woman in a white, upper-middle-class, male-dominated environment, she often had to make accommodations to gain respect from her colleagues, clients, and collaborators. No Compromise looks at Knoll's extraordinary career in close-up, from her student days to her professional accomplishments.

The book explores the enduring struggle for reparations from former slave societies in the Americas, highlighting the historical context and ongoing advocacy since the 18th century. Araujo examines how enslaved and freed individuals articulated their demands through various means, including petitions and narratives. By tracing the evolution of these calls from the era of slavery through emancipation to the present, it sheds light on the complexities and significance of reparations in addressing historical injustices.

Focusing on representations of slavery, this book examines how museums in Europe and the Americas portray the Atlantic slave trade and the experiences of enslaved individuals. It analyzes the use of language, visual imagery, artifacts, and audiovisual materials to convey complex narratives surrounding this historical atrocity, highlighting the role of museums in shaping public understanding and memory of slavery.

The Gift tells the story of one silver ceremonial sword offered as a gift by French traders to an African agent, and reveals how prestigious gifts shaped the trade of enslaved Africans. This compelling account will interest historians of slavery and material culture.