I have a deep passion for learning about art. It has always been a source of inspiration and fascination for me. So, when I came across this particular book, I knew it was going to be a great find. The moment I opened its pages, I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful illustrations and engaging text. It presented art in a way that was both accessible and profound. I found myself completely immersed in the world of art, learning about different artists, their styles, and the stories behind their works. This book truly enhanced my understanding and appreciation of art. It was like a treasure trove of knowledge, and I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who shares my love for art or is simply curious to explore this wonderful field.
Before delving into Sayre's book, I was among those individuals who would stroll through an art museum. I would be drawn to certain pictures, while barely sparing a glance at others, and wonder why some of the renowned pictures on the wall were so highly lauded. However, A World of Art transformed all that.
Sayre writes with an almost elegant simplicity and a surprising degree of emotion (without being excessive) for a textbook. He doesn't attempt to argue or persuade; instead, he assists you in opening your eyes and learning what questions to pose when faced with a work of art for the first time. The book is replete with beautiful illustrations that are astutely selected to facilitate the communication of the text's substance. The chapters are relatively brief, yet they are filled with content.
This was the textbook that accompanied an art appreciation course I took in college. Over the years since college, I have reread many of the chapters - some several times. I have dozens of post-it notes adhered to the margins to remind me of things that inspired trains of thought or clarified matters I hadn't previously comprehended. I have even utilized the book to assist in planning some of my travels, as if I knew I would be in a city with a museum housing any of the works Sayre discusses in the book, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to see them.
Don't let the "textbook" aspect of this book deter you. This is a book that is a pleasure to read, a delight to peruse, and an excellent introduction to the often esoteric language of art criticism. I do recommend reading the first four or five chapters in sequence; after that, you can probably skip around among the chapters, but the initial ones lay the foundation for grasping the fundamental questions of what art is and - perhaps most importantly - what are the functions of art.
I can truthfully state that had I not read this book, I would never have taken up painting. It has enhanced my visits to some of the remarkable museums in the US, the UK, and Europe, and it serves as the starting point for what has been a long and fulfilling period of further reading of books on art and artists.
Highly recommended. Don't be at all astonished to discover that, after reading the book, you suddenly begin to appreciate some forms of art that you might otherwise have dismissed.
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