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The Artist and the Bridge, 1700-1920
The bridge was a popular feature in painting throughout the period from 1700 to 1920, but why did so many artists choose to portray the structures? This study traces the history of the bridge in painting and printmaking through a range of works, including William Etty's The Bridge of Sighs, Claude Monet's The Railway Bridge, Wassily Kandinsky's Composition IV and C.R.W. Nevinson's Looking Through Brooklyn Bridge, revealing its complex role as both symbol and metaphor, and as a place of vantage, meeting and separation.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 24, 2023
--- "there are relatively few bridges in his work. Perhaps he wishes us to see that his peasants live circumscribed lives, and bridges, by their very nature, lead beyond boundaries. It is interesting to note that one of Brugel's few bridges in fact leads over one of the most faterful boundaries of all, into the Towe of Babel" (Sweetman: 7)
--- "The bridge plays an important role in the mountainous landscape of Japan, and a creation story concerning the country's origin includes a bridge, Ama-no-Hashidate" (Sweetman: 151)
--- "Precise, copyable line was required for both purposes, and topographical excactitude had to be supplied for patrons who were interested in local history and antiquarian matters. But inventive use of the bridge motif was not easily held in" (Sweetman: 140)
This book describes different ways in which bridges have been depicted in Western Art or Asian Art and why artists have been attracted to them. Although the title says 1700 as the starting point the book makes reference also to the early Renaissance. The book is made of five essays and four collections of illustrations, which are predominantly in black and white. For every illustration there is a brief description, where more than once I found some information irrelevant.
The fact that most illustrations are in black and white means that all the references the author makes to colour go unnoticed. But the book has helped me discover new paintings and those by Kirchner, Crane and Turner were my favourite ones.
The book includes an artwork by a Spanish artist, which is nice. However, no artwork by a woman is included and the descriptions make constant reference to artworks that are not included in the book either. Being a book on bridges I think it is important that all mentioned artworks are included, especially if they are not as well-known as Munch's The Scream. That I did not like it at all and it is why my review scores 3 stars instead of 4 stars.
--- "The bridge plays an important role in the mountainous landscape of Japan, and a creation story concerning the country's origin includes a bridge, Ama-no-Hashidate" (Sweetman: 151)
--- "Precise, copyable line was required for both purposes, and topographical excactitude had to be supplied for patrons who were interested in local history and antiquarian matters. But inventive use of the bridge motif was not easily held in" (Sweetman: 140)
This book describes different ways in which bridges have been depicted in Western Art or Asian Art and why artists have been attracted to them. Although the title says 1700 as the starting point the book makes reference also to the early Renaissance. The book is made of five essays and four collections of illustrations, which are predominantly in black and white. For every illustration there is a brief description, where more than once I found some information irrelevant.
The fact that most illustrations are in black and white means that all the references the author makes to colour go unnoticed. But the book has helped me discover new paintings and those by Kirchner, Crane and Turner were my favourite ones.
The book includes an artwork by a Spanish artist, which is nice. However, no artwork by a woman is included and the descriptions make constant reference to artworks that are not included in the book either. Being a book on bridges I think it is important that all mentioned artworks are included, especially if they are not as well-known as Munch's The Scream. That I did not like it at all and it is why my review scores 3 stars instead of 4 stars.
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August 3, 201470
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews