Postures : body language in art
Record details
- ISBN: 9780500022610
- ISBN: 0500022615
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Physical Description:
print
319 pages : color illustrations ; 25 cm - Publisher: London ; Thames & Hudson, 2019.
- Copyright: ©2019
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (page 308) and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | Greetings -- Blessings -- Status -- Insults -- Threats -- Distress -- Self-protection -- The erotic -- At rest. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Body language in art History Body language in art Social aspects Art and society |
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Homer Public Library | 704.942 MOR (Text) | 000156768 | Nonfiction | Available | - |
Postures : Body Language in Art
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Summary
Postures : Body Language in Art
This copiously illustrated book, by the ever-provocative Desmond Morris, is a pioneering and lively exploration of the importance of body language in how we understand art. Every time an artist portrays a human subject, a decision has to be made about the posture of the figure. Will they be standing, sitting, or reclining? Smiling, screaming, or weeping? Never before given such dedicated attention, Postures argues that the gestures portrayed in a work of art can reflect the mores of a particular period in history, the customs of a certain culture, or a fashion in artistic styles. Exploring these with masterful subtlety, celebrated artist and anthropologist Desmond Morris uncovers fascinating insights about changing social attitudes and conventions throughout history, finding surprising similarities and significant differences. Morris's vast selection of gestures, from the handshake to the glove-slap, are analyzed and grouped according to wider forms of communication--greetings, threats, insults, and more. All are illustrated with full color works, ranging from prehistoric masks and Greek statues to contemporary paintings and sculptures. Postures uniquely combines Morris's expertise in both art and social science, shedding new light on even the most familiar paintings.