Mirror of the World: A New History of Art

by Julian Bell

A vivid and compelling history of human artistic achievements, from the first stone fashioned into a figure by a hunter-gatherer to the latest new media and installation work. With remarkable clarity, Julian Bell tells the story of how art has evolved through the millennia and across the world. He follows the changing trends in the making and significance of art in different cultures, and explains why the art of the day looked and functioned as it did. Key images and objects-some of them familiar works of art; others, less known but equally crucial to the story-act as landmarks on the journey, focal points around which the discussion always centers. Along the way, Bell answers fundamental questions such as "What is art and where does it start?" and "Why do humans make it and how does it serve them?" Previous histories tended to focus only on the masterpieces of Western art, in the process excluding the work of women or non-Western artists, or else considering developments around the world as separate, unrelated phenomena. Bell's achievement is to take a global perspective, bringing the distinct stories together in one convincing narrative. He draws insightful and inspired connections between different continents and cultures and across the millennia, which results in a rich and seamless introduction to the world of visual creativity. Hundreds of carefully selected illustrations show how artists from different ages and societies often shared the same formal, technical, and aesthetic concerns, while others took divergent paths when their vision dictated it. Julian Bell, himself a well-known painter, is the grandson of Vanessa and Clive Bell, key members of the celebrated Bloomsbury group of writers and artists. His books include What is Painting? .

Genres: Art, History, Art History, Nonfiction, Reference, College

496 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2007

Reviews

[Borislav Stefanov · Rating 2 out of 5]

On one hand, the book is amazing - at least for the scope, spanning more or less the entire human history. It is very difficult to write a comprehensive book about art, covering such a huge period of time and comparing different parts of the world. Speaking of which, I thought it was a great idea to compare Japanese art with something happening in Western Europe, or South America a few centuries earlier or later - and trying to draw comparisons about similarities.

On the negative side, I found the narrative extremely hard to follow. It might be that I am not used to art books, or it might be because of the translation (I read the book in my native Bulgarian language), but I often had to go a few times over the same paragraph - and yet I could not get the author's idea.

Here are a few random excerpts from the Bulgarian version of the book. (I really opened a few random pages and pasted what I saw):

"Зад това обръщане към вътрешната драма лежи постепенното разгръщане на формата, придобила известност в западното християнство като 'олтар'. Византийските икони, тези 'неподправени образи и подобия', са поставяни в средата на църквата, за да свържат непосредствено богомолеца и божественото. Ако вземете обаче подобно изображение и го положите за долтара като разпятие в кулминацията на преклонението - както западното християнство все по-често прави, особено след плячкосването на Византия през 1204 г., - значението му може да се промени. То остава връзка със светеца, на когото е посветен олтарът, но може д апослужи и като табло за обяви, на което да забодем разкази в картинки."

"В шведския двор, например отдава дванайсетте години след 1780 г., на изобразяването на огромната сцена на коронясването, която в по-голяма степен от всяко друго платно от този век въплъщава мистиката на тази сдобила се с благоволение свише монархия - именно на политиката, която мислителите на Просвещението се готвят да отрекат. Можем ли просто да пренебрегнем въпросната творба като принадлежаща към тресавището на европейската култура?"

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book, tracing art history (mostly) chronologically across the whole world and exploring connections between different cultures etc... And it was interesting. And it has some very quotable lines. But it's not going to be my first port of call for a History of Art reference book: it doesn't go into enough depth for me, either into the different artists in a different peiod/culture, or into enough depth about the artists it does talk about. It more sees the art as a way into the social history of a place (well it is called 'Mirror of the World' I suppose) and it is very interesting from that point of view, but I don't think its a 'new art history'... more 'a book that will be useful when considering certain aspects of art or if you want to know what was happening in art across the world at the same time as a certain artist' (phewph can see why that isn't the subtitle come to think to it).

In total 3.5/5, which rounds up to four... but luckily I got this from a library, I'm not going to pay my prize money for a permanent copy!

[Susu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spanning history from prehistoric times to our times - and around the globe, too. A refreshing view on art history and the cultural lines along which art develops. Some leaps are a bit wide to make and some comparisons of material tempt to see similarities and overrate them. This world-tour through art is still a brilliant collection of thought - interesting to read. I would be curious to know how someone sees this book who has no deeper interest in art history.

[Jack Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great starter or general overview of art history spanning from the first recorded sculpture to the early 21st century. Bell writes with humour and passion, genuinely enhancing the work he is discussing - the work is also presented beautifully, lovingly spread across pages in full colour. It's about as close as you can get to seeing them in person. Bell is conversational but precise with his words, and frequently provides recommendations for texts that discuss the sections he is (self-admittedly) less familiar with. Most importantly, the book is just a pleasure to read and is an excellent launching-off point for greater study of art history.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept this book on my kitchen table (it's heavy!) and read it every morning, taking notes and looking up images on my iPad. It was my summer art history course. He makes some unusual choices and comparisons, which enliven this otherwise basic survey of both eastern and western art history. Now that it's finished, I miss it! Looking for a good contemporary survey to read next.

[Éloïse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am, at last, done with Julian Bell. It was quite interesting, fascinating even at some points, but your narrative was of the strangest sort and I won't be sad to leave it behind. You have gave me a lot to think about, but I won't be sad to part from you. Have a good life, Mr. Bell.

[Стефан Петков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Съвременен обзорен прочит на изминалото изкуство. Не е лошо да се прочете и класиката на Гомбрих за сравнение. Инак преводът на Елика Рафи на някои немски имена е погрешен, но това не е фатално.

[Aykut Karabay · Rating 5 out of 5]

İnsan evriminin ilk zamanlarından (Milat’tan önce 31.000 öncesi) - 2000’lere kadar görsel sanat tarihini, insanlığın değişimi ve gelişimi ile eş zamanlı olarak anlatan muazzam bir yapıt.

Binlerce yıldır sanatın nasıl yapıldığı, zamanlar ve mekanlar arasında eserlerin oluşumunun nasıl farklılaştığı, bu farklılaşmanın insanlığın, coğrafyanın, dünyanın değişimi ve gelişimiyle eş zamanlı ve bağlantılı olduğunu okuyorsunuz.

Kitabın en güzel yönü, sanatı sadece estetik beğeniyle ilgili gelişigüzel bir olgu olarak görmemesi. Bilakis sanatın, gelişimi üzerinden dünya ve insanlık tarihini tüm genişliği ile yansıtan bir ayna olduğunu bize göstermesi bence. Değişen beğenilerimiz, zevklerimiz, insanlık ve dünya algılarımız… Sanatsal değişimin toplumsal, kültürel, teknolojik, politik ve dini değişimle bağlantılı olduğunu belgeleriyle gösteriyor.

Sanat tarihine, insanlık tarihine meraklıysanız mutlaka okumanızı tavsiye ederim. Sadece internetten sipariş verirseniz 480 sayfa olduğunu da bilmenizi isterim 🙂 Keyifli okumalar.

[Raphaela Folia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Νομίζω ότι έχω διαβάσει καλύτερα βιβλία από αυτό.. δεν μπορώ να πω ότι το διάβασα με μεγάλη όρεξη

[Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the fact that almost all of the 372 reproductions of the artworks discussed are in color. The pictures are clear and vivid. I refer to this personal art-history by Julian Bell the grand-son of Vanessa Bell, Virginia Wolff's sister. Also perhaps more importantly the son of art critic Quentin Bell. A very thoughtful introduction to world art.

[Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any other art history books so I can't compare but I liked this one. I think you can get the basics from this.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

💙

[avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this bit by bit to see if it would be a good recommendation for my friends and family to get into art history, and i think it would accomplish this very well! if you're already familiar with art history, you might find it repetitive, but i still found myself learning new things. i've always taken issue with the fact that traditional art historical education stays very western-focused, and i think this is an excellent survey to start with

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. A sweeping yet subtle and very personal survey of humankind's engagement with artistic creation from prehistory to almost now. The narrative moves briskly, but it tends to feel more reflective than rushed, an extended meditation on humanity itself, paragraph after paragraph bursting with insight.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving it 4 stars because it has nice pictures and gives decent coverage of non-Western art, but the text is really quite boring and showy in the way that only art criticism can be. Gombrich wrote much better in The Story of Art.

[Onisor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poate a fost traducerea de vina, insa stilul de scriere a fost atat de greoi, dezlanat si uneori scris in cuvinte ce nu aveau noima unele langa altele, topica era pe dos. Vad ca au scris si altii asta, deci problema e la original, nu la traducere neaparat.

[Tony Gualtieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journey through art history that attempts to be global but is staunchly Eurocentric. I enjoyed the earlier chapters more than the later, which feel rushed.

[Hong Ngan Dang]

It’’s definitely a contemporary history of art. It tries to give equal inclusion to non european/american art and challenges a few commonly held notions about the development of art over the ages. He focusses largely on the social conditions surrounding the production of various works of art in history (which is mostly what I was interested in) and it’’s fair to say that, in general, he’’s not too interested in biography. It can be a little disjointed and shallow at points but that’’s to be expected given how much information he’’s trying to condense into a relatively short work. On top of it being more insightful than anything I’ve previously read on the subject it’s managed to be an easy and accessible read so far. I’’d say a definite read for anyone interested in getting into art history.

[Bookaholic]

Trebuie sa recunosc: Oglinda lumii mi-a atras atenţia în primul rând pentru că e o ediţie foarte frumoasă şi în al doilea, pentru că se numeşte aşa: Oglinda lumii. Când m-am gândit la implicaţiile lui, titlul mi-a displăcut imediat. Arta numai oglindă nu e, iar dacă ar fi, n-ar fi una a lumii, ci a unor indivizi…. Dar, cel puţin, era un titlu ceva mai inventiv (rar i se întâmplă unei istorii a artei!) şi, după ce am citit ce povesteşte Julian Bell, mi-am dat seama că, de fapt, e şi unul foarte potrivit pentru felul în care vede el lucrurile. (continuarea recenziei: http://bookaholic.ro/oglinda-lumii-is...)