The life of forms in art

Bibliographic Information

The life of forms in art

Henri Focillon

Zone Books, 1989

  • : pbk

Other Title

La vie des formes

Search this Book/Journal
Note

Translation of: La vie des formes

Reprint. Originally published: New York : Wittenborn, Schultz, 1948

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents
Volume

ISBN 9780942299564

Description

In this classic meditation on the problem of style in art history, Henri Focillon describes how art forms change over time. Although he argues that the development of art is irreducible to external political, social, or economic determinants, one of his great achievements was to lodge a concept of autonomous formal mutation within the shifting domain of materials and techniques. Focillon emphasizes the presence of nonsynchronous tendencies within styles that give to artworks a manifold and stratified character. The Life of Forms in Art remains one of the most brilliant and important reflections on the morphology of art. It has been superbly translated by George Kubler, whose book The Shape of Time was influenced by Focillon. The book also contains a critical introduction by Jean Molino. Henri Focillon (1881-1943) taught at the CollAge de France and at Yale University. His books include Art of the West. Romanesque and Gothic (2 vols.), The Year 1000, L'art des sculpteurs romans, and Piero della Francesca.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780942299571

Description

One of the most brilliant and important applications of biological metaphors to the study of art. In this classic meditation on the problem of style in art history, Henri Focillon In this beautiful meditation on the history of art and the problem of style, Henri Focillon (1881-1943) describes how art forms change over time. Although he argues that the development of art is irreducible to external political, social, or economic determinants, one of his great achievements was to lodge a concept of autonomous formal mutation within the shifting domain of materials and techniques. Focillon emphasizes the presence of nonsynchronous tendencies within styles that give to artworks a manifold and stratified character. The Life of Forms in Art remains one of the most brilliant and important reflections on the morphology of art. It has been superbly translated by George Kubler, whose book The Shape of Time was influenced by Focillon.The book also contains a critical introduction by Jean Molino. Henri Focillon (1881-1943) taught at the CollAge de France and at Yale University. His books include Art of the West. Romanesque and Gothic (2 vols.), The Year 1000, L'art des sculpteurs romans, and Piero della Francesca.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details
  • NCID
    BA09831105
  • ISBN
    • 0942299566
    • 0942299574
  • LCCN
    88020598
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Original Language Code
    fre
  • Place of Publication
    New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    190 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
Page Top