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haoyang's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of essays on art written by a literary figure, a non-artist. The allure of this anthology, in my opinion, lies in the fact that an otherwise 'elite' subject matter is written about by an amateur in art, a master in prose. Without pretending to be a technical/academic study of the 17 artists ranging from Delacroix to Oldenburg, Barnes novelistically and eloquently elucidates the 'artistic' features of their artworks, their artistic development, the way their works are situated in a wider historical context -- all in a highly accessible manner. What Barnes also successfully avoided is to place the man before the artist, or, in other words, to write a biography; indeed, in a few of his essays, he argues for the non-centrality of an artist's life (at times, speculative work) to their work. Barnes' essays are never entirely the same, but they all share perfect portions of art, life, philosophy, literature. They are, as some reviewers have put it, 'engaging, eloquent, elegant, entertaining, erudite' pieces written by an excellent critic. While he is clearly fascinated by the art and has quite a few opinions to share, that critical distance is still maintained.
Another thing that stood out to me: Barnes weaves art and literature together so seamlessly that you can see both forms of art complementing one another. On the same page, there could be references to Flaubert and Foucault, then to Matisse and Ingres. It is this masterly navigation between these two closely related worlds that truly characterises Barnes' essays; considering the final essay (on Howard Hodgkin, an artist friend of Barnes), Keeping An Eye Open could be imagined as a collection of love letters to and from writers and artists.
"Painters are envied because their art combines the means of expression and the expression itself in the same act and place... Writers rarely consider if there might be reverse-envy as well: that a painter whose picture is given a five-second glance by some window-shopping gallery-goer might well envy the sheer time a reader is willing to spend with a writer. Redon declared literature 'the greatest art'."
Do give this collection a chance -- you'll walk away feeling inspired and artistically nourished.
Another thing that stood out to me: Barnes weaves art and literature together so seamlessly that you can see both forms of art complementing one another. On the same page, there could be references to Flaubert and Foucault, then to Matisse and Ingres. It is this masterly navigation between these two closely related worlds that truly characterises Barnes' essays; considering the final essay (on Howard Hodgkin, an artist friend of Barnes), Keeping An Eye Open could be imagined as a collection of love letters to and from writers and artists.
"Painters are envied because their art combines the means of expression and the expression itself in the same act and place... Writers rarely consider if there might be reverse-envy as well: that a painter whose picture is given a five-second glance by some window-shopping gallery-goer might well envy the sheer time a reader is willing to spend with a writer. Redon declared literature 'the greatest art'."
Do give this collection a chance -- you'll walk away feeling inspired and artistically nourished.
reading_yarn's review
4.0
It was interesting. A lot easier to read than other art texts but it does require to look up some paintings because the book doesn't have an image of all the works mentioned.
cameliarose's review
5.0
Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art by Julian Barnes, is a delightful read. It starts with Géricault and ends with Hodgkin. Plenty of anecdotes of artworks and artists. Many cross references between different art forms. As an amateur art lover, I spend time looking up names and paintings on Internet.
"Artistic virtue and integrity, as we know, are independent (sometimes startlingly so) from personal virtue and integrity."
Can you judge the merit of an artwork by the character of its creator? Is it worth to know the life of an artist? How much would you allow the knowledge of an artist affect your option of his art and vice versa? These are some recurring questions asked in book. I guess we all have our own answers. For me, the character of an artist would affect my opinion of his/her art.
I also like these interesting observations made by Julian Barnes:
"Art changes over time; what is art changes too." (hence pop art)
"Art doesn’t just capture and convey the excitement, the thrill of life. Sometimes, it does even more: it is that thrill."
"Artistic virtue and integrity, as we know, are independent (sometimes startlingly so) from personal virtue and integrity."
Can you judge the merit of an artwork by the character of its creator? Is it worth to know the life of an artist? How much would you allow the knowledge of an artist affect your option of his art and vice versa? These are some recurring questions asked in book. I guess we all have our own answers. For me, the character of an artist would affect my opinion of his/her art.
Spoiler
The rumour about Degas does not stop me loving his beautiful ballet dancers but Lucian Freud is ruined for me forever. Well, I have never liked his portraitures, now I've found a reason not to like them.I also like these interesting observations made by Julian Barnes:
"Art changes over time; what is art changes too." (hence pop art)
"Art doesn’t just capture and convey the excitement, the thrill of life. Sometimes, it does even more: it is that thrill."
hannes's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Well written, but not for the uninitiated; it requires some knowledge of the painters involved, and to fully appreciate it, you probably want to look up the paintings discussed - there are only limited pictures included in the book itself.
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
From Paul Cezanne to Lucian Freud, the novelist and critic Julian Barnes considers the thrill of art.
'Flaubert believed that it was impossible to explain one art form in terms of another, and that great paintings required no words of explanation.'
In this selection from Julian Barnes' recently published collection of essays on art, he gives us a dazzling and thoughtful assessment of the life and work of a range of artists who set the stage for Modern Art. His words of explanation are always witty, humane and full of insight.
4* Arthur & George
5* Flaubert's Parrot
3* Pulse
2* Talking It Over
2* Love, etc.
3* Keeping an Eye Open
TR The Sense of an Ending
From Paul Cezanne to Lucian Freud, the novelist and critic Julian Barnes considers the thrill of art.
'Flaubert believed that it was impossible to explain one art form in terms of another, and that great paintings required no words of explanation.'
In this selection from Julian Barnes' recently published collection of essays on art, he gives us a dazzling and thoughtful assessment of the life and work of a range of artists who set the stage for Modern Art. His words of explanation are always witty, humane and full of insight.
4* Arthur & George
5* Flaubert's Parrot
3* Pulse
2* Talking It Over
2* Love, etc.
3* Keeping an Eye Open
TR The Sense of an Ending
mandyla's review
4.0
I cannot figure out what it is about Julian Barnes that appeals to me so much. Perhaps it's that I aspire to articulate things in the way he does? Clarity and allusion working together, maybe?
But yes - I did really enjoy this book. I have new ways to look at old works, and new ideas to bring to my looking as well.
But yes - I did really enjoy this book. I have new ways to look at old works, and new ideas to bring to my looking as well.
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