The Intimate Philosophy of Art by John Armstrong
How many of us have stopped before a famous painting or building only to realise, with quiet disappointment, that we can't quite see what the fuss is about? What do we have to do - beyond just staring - to get the most out of art? How do we come to develop an attachment to individual works and find them deeply fascinating? How do they come to matter to us? While many have diligently directed attention to questions in art history, theory or criticism, the author, in a powerful and original shift of focus, considers the roots of our personal engagement with art. perhaps this is both the most important and most neglected aspect of thinking about art. There is no access to art except in private - in looking, thinking and feeling in the presence of an individual work. In this book, the author describes the resources we each need to cultivate in order to enjoy painting and architecture; resources such as reverie, attention and the investment of emotion. Moving easily between the intimacies of personal experiences and lucid, accessible philosophical reflection, the author acts as a sensitive and persuasive guide.
"* 'Full of valuable and provocative insights that go against the grain of many contemporary assumptions' Independent * 'An elegant book, arguing that the private use we make of works of art is an essential feature of the appreciation of art' The Times * 'John Armstrong's book will be welcomed by readers mystified by the jargon of art criticism.. He gives us an illuminating lecture on a handful of paintings which deepened and refined my personal response no end. The man's an education' Time Out * 'Everyone who cares about art should read this elegant, intelligent and timely essay.' The Tablet"
John Armstrong is a research fellow in philosophy at the University of London, and director of the Aesthetics Programme there. He is also an art dealer specialising in nineteenth-century painting and Italian sports cars.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780140288124 |
| ISBN 10 | 0140288120 |
| Title | The Intimate Philosophy of Art |
| Author | John Armstrong |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2001-06-28 |
| Number of pages | 224 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |