Niko Pirosmanashvili comprehensively tells the story of the life and work of elusive Georgian painter Niko Pirosmanashvili (c.1866-1918), popularly known as Pirosmani, during one of the most interesting epochs in the history of Georgia. Key essays, both recollections by those who knew him and contemporary scholarship, explore his life as an impoverished artist living in Tbilisi. Charting his influence on the Georgian and Russian avant-gardists to the Modernists, including Picasso, and the parallels Pirosmani holds with Henri Rousseau and Vincent van Gogh, the artist's wider cultural impact is also examined from Georgian and international perspectives, past and present. Illustrations of Pirosmani's artwork, alongside a wealth of photographs from Georgia from the beginning of the twentieth century, make this a richly visual resource. With a foreword by Orhan Pamuk, this evocative book is the result of a meticulous process of assemblage by two artists dedicated to broadening Pirosmanashvili’s legacy and has been in formation for almost fifty years.

"This book stands as a testament to the enduring significance of his work, both artistically and as a record of a profound moment in the history of his native Georgia." Colin Rhodes, The Burlington

Arkady Troyanker is an award-winning graphic designer who has worked for major publishing houses since the 1960s and was the creative director of "Itogi" magazine (1995-2001). Tengiz Mirzashvili (1934–2008) was a respected Georgian artist, stage and film designer, and book illustrator. Known for his landscapes and genre paintings, his work drew comparisons to Pirosmanashvili, whom he spent many years researching. Mirzashvili’s work can be found in several museums and private collections. Orhan Pamuk was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2006.