The Chinese on the Art of Painting: Texts by the Painter-Critics, from the Han Through the Ch'ing Dynasties
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Book Overview
Because so many Chinese artworks have been ravaged by time, the only way to really understand their history and significance is to turn to writings by the painters themselves or by contemporary critics. That is what Osvald Sir n has done in this classic book, with eye-opening results.
One of the first Western studies to systematically cover the more than two thousand years of Chinese art, this book by a modern expert considers a wide range of topics, including the relationship between religion and art and the different aesthetic philosophies prevalent in different periods. The book covers art works from the Han (third century B.C.) to the T'ang dynasties; the Sung period; aspects of Ch'an Buddhism and its relation to painting; the Y an period; historical theories, methods of study, and aesthetic principles of the Ming dynasty; and individual departures and reassertion of traditional principles during the Ch'ing period.
Readable and intriguing, this volume is a valuable reference for art lovers and historians.
One of the first Western studies to systematically cover the more than two thousand years of Chinese art, this book by a modern expert considers a wide range of topics, including the relationship between religion and art and the different aesthetic philosophies prevalent in different periods. The book covers art works from the Han (third century B.C.) to the T'ang dynasties; the Sung period; aspects of Ch'an Buddhism and its relation to painting; the Y an period; historical theories, methods of study, and aesthetic principles of the Ming dynasty; and individual departures and reassertion of traditional principles during the Ch'ing period.
Readable and intriguing, this volume is a valuable reference for art lovers and historians.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0486444287
ISBN13:9780486444284
Release Date:August 2005
Publisher:Dover Publications
Length:288 Pages
Weight:0.70 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
a precious book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
I read this book ten years ago and typed out dozens and dozens of quotes from it because I thought it was so wonderful. I do tai chi, chi gong and I teach art and I am very interested in art history. I found this book in our local library. I was AMAZED that it had this book. I recently reread those pages of quotes and wanted to take it out of the library again, but our library has gotten rid of it. This is a very specialized book. If you have no background in Chinese art, it will not make sense to you--but if you are someone who loves to spend time looking at the Chinese art in your local museum. If you have some appreciation for the Tao Te Ching, you will enjoy this book. If you know who Ni Tzan is, you will love this book. How can an average person, who is not a scholar find examples of these ancient texts? Here they are gathered together so you can peruse and enjoy them.
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