Pictures and Tears: A History of People Who Have Cried in Front of Paintings (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780415937139)

Art Does art leave you cold? And is that what it's supposed to do? Or is a painting meant to move you to tears? Hemingway was reduced to tears in the midst of a drinking bout when a painting by James Thurber caught his eye. And what's bad about that? In Pictures and Tears, art historian James Elkins tells the story of paintings that have made people cry. Drawing upon anecdotes related to individual works of art, he provides a chronicle of how people have shown emotion before works of art in the past, and a meditation on the curious tearlessness with which most people approach art in the present. Deeply personal, Pictures and Tears is a history of emotion and vulnerability, and an inquiry into the nature of art. This book is a rare and invaluable treasure for people who love art. Also includes an 8-page color insert.

Author: James Elkins
ISBN-10: 0415937132
ISBN-13: 9780415937139
Publisher: Routledge
Language: English
Published: 09/14/2001
Pages: 294
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.08lbs
Size: 8.54h x 6.42w x 1.06d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 10/15/2001 pg. 367
Library Journal 11/01/2001 pg. 86