Shades—Of Painting at the Limit

by John Sallis

"[Sallis’s] ideas are presented in a singular, scholarly, remarkable, captivating, conceptually rigorous, dense, and deep manner.... Highly recommended." —Choice "This fascinating book by one of the more original voices writing philosophy in English poses questions about the nature of the visible and invisible, sensible and intelligible." —Dennis Schmidt What is it that an artist paints in a painting? Working from paintings themselves rather than from philosophical theories, John Sallis shows how, through shades and limits, the painter renders visible the light that confers visibility on things. In his extended examination of three phases in the development of modern painting, Sallis focuses on the work of Claude Monet, Wassily Kandinsky, and Mimmo Paladino—three painters who, each in his own way, carry painting to the limit.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

John Sallis was an American philosopher well known for his work in the tradition of phenomenology. From 2005 until his death, he was the Frederick J. Adelmann Professor of Philosophy at Boston College. He previously taught at Pennsylvania State University (1996–2005), Vanderbilt University (1990–1995), Loyola University of Chicago (1983–1990), Duquesne University (1966–1983) and the University of the South (1964–1966).