The Practice of Art History: Reflections on Method: 9 (Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History) - Hardcover

Pacht, Otto

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1872501265 ISBN 13: 9781872501260

Publisher: Harvey Miller Publishers, 1999

Synopsis

Here, for the first time in English, is Pächt´s well-known, fundamental text, Methodisches zur Kunsthistorischen Praxis. Pächt´s approach to art history is shaped by his conviction that visual art, like music, can say things in its own medium that cannot be said in any other. He aims to sharpen our perceptions by recreating the social and cultural context in which an object was made, clarifying unfamiliar notions of space and time or significant gestures and symbols which are no longer recognizable. Each part of Pächt´s analysis is illustrated by reference to a specific manuscript, painting, building or sculpture, and his examples range fro medieval and Renaissance art through to the works of Rembrandt. He explores the theories of major thinkers from Riegl, Wölfflin and Croce to Panofsky and Gombrich. But the emphasis always returns to the activity of looking, and Pächt´s greatest achievement is in showing the student and general reader alike how to practise art history in their own encounters with works of art.

About this title

Synopsis

This is the English version of Otto Pacht's text on art history. His approach to art history is shaped by his conviction that visual art, like music, can express ideas in its own medium that no other can. He aims to sharpen the reader's perceptions by recreating the social and cultural context in which an object was made, clarifying unfamiliar notions of space and time or significant gestures and symbols which are no longer recognizable. Pacht explores the major thinkers from Riegl, Wolfflin and Croce to Panofsky and Gombrich, but the emphasis always returns to the activity of looking, and Pacht manages to show the student and general reader alike how to practice art history in their own encounters with works of art.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harvey Miller Publishers
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1872501265
• ISBN 13: 9781872501260
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144