- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (28 Jun 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140288120
- ISBN-13: 978-0140288124
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 470,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
John Armstrong's The Intimate Philosophy of Art is much less a philosophy or a critique of particular artworks or a retread through the now familiar course of art history than an invitation to look. Armstrong's argument has a wonderfully egalitarian underpinning--it is not book learning, he argues, that is going to help us get the most out of a particular art work (although contextualising art may add something to our appreciation of it) but rather cultivating the (difficult) skill of looking. What constitutes this skill? Reverie, contemplation (classically broken down into five parts: animadversion, noticing details; concursus, seeing relationships between parts; hololepsis, seizing the whole as the whole; the lingering caress; catalepsis, mutal absorption) and investment. This is somewhat akin to the process of falling in love. And if we are to love, and so get the most out of, particular works of art this process of properly looking is what should concern us. If we really look, and spend the time to look that huge galleries packed full of more and more works so hinders, and speeding past wonderful buildings forbids, then art will respond to our gaze and will reveal what it has revealed to the likes of Ruskin, Goethe and Proust. Armstrong writes clearly and cleverly about art, architecture and philosophy. He gives a particularly good, not to say pithy, account of Kant, Schiller and Hegel's aesthetics. The book itself is abundantly illustrated with some 37 excellent reproductions to encourage the skills that Armstrong describes throughout his essay. This is a really superb book and one all art lovers should add to their shelves. --Mark Thwaite
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"* '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"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
John Armstrong's book is a wittily written essay about our personal enjoyment of the arts, in particular of paintings and architecture. Being generally easy to read, the book not only makes you laugh occasionally, but sometimes requires an all-round humanistic art education to grasp the points ("contextual knowledge" of the world of painting and literature). The book is a small piece of esthetical art in itself, pursuing to extend the philosophy of our unconscious mind to appreciate beautiful art. Armstrong's book carefully analyses what exactly makes art enjoyable and after you have read the book you will find that your personal enjoyment of art has been enhanced. All in all, a refreshing and intellectually stimulating piece of work. The book enables all those readers who are busily pursuing a hectic lifestyle to take a step back and start thinking about what rearly makes life enjoyable.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I agree with the other (5 star reviews) if only the text is to be considered. The illustrations in the paperback version are unusable, being poorly contrasted and in black and white. Since frequent reference is made to these illustrations, the whole book is debased. I should have bought the hardback and probably will in the future.
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