Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Frances Lincoln (2023), 308 pages
Description
The Art of Fantasy is an inspiring curation of art for fans of myth, magic and the unreal - from gallery greats (the Surrealists and Symbolists) to artists working in the margins today.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pomo58
The Art of Fantasy by S Elizabeth is an attractive and informative guide to fantastic art over time and across styles.
This isn't as big as many coffee table books but would certainly make a lovely display. I like the size being closer to a standard book, maybe a tad wider, since this is also the
I want to specify a general reference, not a detailed reference. My areas of research never centered on art but often used art to help make a point or establish a trend. This would be an ideal book for that type of researcher. It could also serve as inspiration for a writer, whether to spark the imagination in general or to help create beings or scenes for a story. As in Elizabeth's other "Art of..." books the list for further reading is short but chosen very well, so you have avenues to read more in whatever areas pique your curiosity, in addition to the information in the body of the book, from which you can generate more specific searches.
As for content, what I particularly enjoyed was the inclusion of everything from classic works of art to illustrations that accompanied stories and other more mass-produced images. It was fun and interesting having these works in conversation with each other.
I liked the broad introductions to each section and chapter with the information about each image in a bigger caption next to each. I find that, in non-textbooks, to be far easier and lends itself to a smoother reading experience with less page-flipping.
All in all, I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in fantastic art, from a casual to formal interest. I think there will be things both familiar and unfamiliar to most readers and that usually means a fun time.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
This isn't as big as many coffee table books but would certainly make a lovely display. I like the size being closer to a standard book, maybe a tad wider, since this is also the
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kind of book that one might want to have handy by a study or research area (in other words, on a shelf without being awkward). Either way, it will serve wonderfully as a display book or as a basic reference type book.I want to specify a general reference, not a detailed reference. My areas of research never centered on art but often used art to help make a point or establish a trend. This would be an ideal book for that type of researcher. It could also serve as inspiration for a writer, whether to spark the imagination in general or to help create beings or scenes for a story. As in Elizabeth's other "Art of..." books the list for further reading is short but chosen very well, so you have avenues to read more in whatever areas pique your curiosity, in addition to the information in the body of the book, from which you can generate more specific searches.
As for content, what I particularly enjoyed was the inclusion of everything from classic works of art to illustrations that accompanied stories and other more mass-produced images. It was fun and interesting having these works in conversation with each other.
I liked the broad introductions to each section and chapter with the information about each image in a bigger caption next to each. I find that, in non-textbooks, to be far easier and lends itself to a smoother reading experience with less page-flipping.
All in all, I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in fantastic art, from a casual to formal interest. I think there will be things both familiar and unfamiliar to most readers and that usually means a fun time.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
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Language
ISBN
0711279950 / 9780711279957
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