
How to Read Paintings: A Crash Course in Meaning and Method - How to Read (Paperback)
Liz Rideal (author)
£12.99
Paperback
256 Pages
Published: 18/10/2018
Published: 18/10/2018
A concise introduction to paintings in the Western European tradition, through the stories of 50 powerful artworks by artists from Van Gogh to da Vinci.
How to Read Paintings is a valuable visual guide to Western European painting. Through a gallery of artworks accompanied by informative commentary, it enables you to swiftly develop your understanding of the grammar and vocabulary of painting, and to discover how to look at diverse paintings in detail, closely reading their meanings and methods.
In the first part of the book, the author shows you how to read paintings by considering five key areas: shape and support, medium and materials, composition, style and technique, and signs and symbols, as well as the role of the artist. In the second part, you can explore fifty paintings through extracted details, accompanied by insightful commentary, training you to understand context and meaning within art.
As a collection, the pictures featured in How to Read Paintings have a strong relationship with one another, and underpin the story of painting. This book is a valuable tool whether you are viewing the real artwork on a gallery wall, or simply reading around the subject to learn more about Western art.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9781912217830
Number of pages: 256
Weight: 391 g
Dimensions: 165 x 135 mm
You may also be interested in...
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Not registered? CREATE AN ACCOUNTCREATE A plus ACCOUNT
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Reserve online, pay on collection
Thank you for your reservation
Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at
When will my order be ready to collect?
Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection.
Call us on or send us an email at
Unfortunately there has been a problem with your order
Please try again or alternatively you can contact your chosen shop on or send us an email at