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A review by cameliarose
Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art by Julian Barnes
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."