| Date: 30 April 2011, 05:09
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When one looks at a Monet, what exactly is one looking at? A framed painting, surely. And, too, as traditional art history texts would suggest, an "impression of light and atmosphere." But for art historian and painter Elkins, the essence of a painting--" what painting is" --goes beyond such abstractions. For one must not overlook the "process" of painting itself, the process by which artists get their hands dirty mixing oils and pigments, jabbing and scraping until one day the mess of paint blobs magically emerges as water lilies (or a haystack or a field of poppies) on the canvas. Indeed, it is the transformative power of the act of painting that Elkins explores in What Painting Is and that he elucidates expertly by way of another transformative art--the ancient practice of alchemy. In each of the nine chapters, Elkins draws parallels between artistic and alchemical processes. Like the alchemist, the painter sequesters him-or herself into the studio to mix and match substances in search of a recipe that will turn unpromising materia prima into the perfect painting (the philosopher's stone). Elkins, a true alchemist of ideas, has conjured up an original and insightful book that is sure to transform the reader's understanding of painting. Veronica Scrol --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A remarkable discussion...an extraordinary evocation of art and oil painting." -- Leon Golub, painter
"A truly original book. It will make you look at paintings differently and think about paint differently." -- Boston Globe
"This book is brilliant." -- Frank Auerbach, painter
...an illuminating exploration of the pungent and visceral fecundity of the painters workplace. -- Nicholas Harding, Sydney Morning Herald
...colorful and entertaining... This is a richly interesting look at the worlds of alchemy and painting. -- Virginia Bryant, Parabola
...this is a truly original book. It will make you look at paintings differently and think about paint differently. -- Globe
This is a novel way of considering paintings, and excitingly different from standard art criticism. -- The Atlantic Monthly
An inspired, poetic account of an artists creation is revealed. -- Reviewers Bookwatch
Elkins...has conjured up an original and insightful book that will transform the readers understanding of painting. -- Editors Choice
Like the alcemist, a painter enters the studio to mix and match substances in search of a recipe that will turn unpromising materia prima into the perfect painting. Elkins, a true alchemist of ideas, has conjured up an original and insightful book that will transform the readers understanding of painting. -- Booklist
The best books often introduce new worlds. What Painting Is exposes the reader to painting materials, brushstroke techniques and alchemy (of all things), in a book filled with rich description and illuminating insight. Read this and youll never look at paintings in the same way again. -- Columbus, OH Dispatch
James Elkins, who teaches at the Art Institute of Chicago, has written one of the few essential books on oil painting...Perhaps the greatest surprise of Elkins book is that he can communicate his learned enthusiasms for alchemys weird doctrines and symbolism. He makes readers feel they are truly tasting a view point of reality alien to the modern scientific world view. No book now in print heightens ones feel for the reality of painting--as object and pursuit--better than What Painting Is. -- San Francisco Chronicle
Elkins, a true alchemist of ideas, has conjured up an original and insightful book that is sure to transform the readers understanding of painting. -- Booklist, starred review
James Elkins, his academic laces untied, traces a marvelous, evocative and utterly convincing parallel between two spirits grounded in the earth--alchemy and painting. The author is an alchemist of ideas, and a painter. His openness mo the love of quicksilver and sulfur, to putrefying animal excretions, and his expertise in imprimaturas, his feeling for the mysteries of the brushstroke--all these allow him to concoct a heady elixir. -- Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1981
This book is brilliant. -- Frank Auerbach, painter
A remarkable discussion... an extraordinary evocation of art and oil painting. -- Leon Golub, painter
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