Painting the Human Figure: Ideas and Perception

A study and celebration of the rich diversity of style and forms in paintings of the human figure

From the very beginnings of human existence, artists have made images of people, a continually evolving practice. This book focuses on close and perceptive visual analysis of specific pictures to place the idea of looking at painting at the very center of the process of making paintings. Works are considered in relation to their artistic and social context, and the book includes insightful comparisons between pictures from diverse cultures and periods. It compares the relationships between looking and making; explores the interactions between mark, touch, and form; explains color relationships and perceptual effects; and discusses the potential for paintings to express a wide range of emotion, belief, and experience. Extensive drawings and paintings complement the discussion.