Painting As an Art

One of the twentieth century's most influential texts on philosophical aesthetics

Painting as an Art is acclaimed philosopher Richard Wollheim's encompassing vision of how to view art. Transcending the traditional boundaries of art history, Wollheim draws on his three great passions-philosophy, psychology, and art-to present an illuminating theory of the very experience of art. He shows how to unlock the meaning of a painting by retrieving-almost reenacting-the creative activity that produced it. In order to fully appreciate a work of art, Wollheim argues, critics must bring a much richer conception of human psychology than they have in the past. This classic book points the way to discovering what is most profound and subtle about paintings by major artists such as Titian, Bellini, and de Kooning.

About the author

Richard Wollheim (1923-2003) was emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. His many books include Art and Its Objects, On the Emotions, and Freud.

Product details

• Authors: Richard Wollheim, Wollheim Richard
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.08.2023
• EAN: 9780691252292
• ISBN: 978-0-691-25229-2
• No. of pages: 384
• Series: The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts; Bollingen Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Art history; Theory of art, ART / Criticism & Theory, Painting & paintings, Paintings and painting