What Painting Is

By James Elkins,

Book cover of What Painting Is

Book description

In this classic text, James Elkins communicates the experience of painting beyond the traditional vocabulary of art history. Alchemy provides a strange language to explore what it is a painter really does in the studio-the smells, the mess, the struggle to control the uncontrollable, the special knowledge only painters hold…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked What Painting Is as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Another odd choice for this category and an unusual but nonetheless compelling book. Elkins talks about painting in terms of medieval alchemy. The point, however, is right down my street: it is about the materiality of painting.

Put aside the meaning of a finished artwork and think about the acts behind its making, from creating paint from various pigments and oils to brushing them on stretched canvas. This helped me understand the lives of people who work with materials, things, and stuff, including scientists and engineers. What they think is important, but so is what they do and their facility…

Want books like What Painting Is?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like What Painting Is.

Browse books like What Painting Is

Book cover of Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Book cover of American Genesis: A Century of Invention and Technological Enthusiasm, 1870-1970
Book cover of Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in painting, alchemy, and art history?

Painting 58 books
Alchemy 75 books
Art History 19 books