Living with Art, 13th Edition by Mark Getlein is a comprehensive guide to understanding and appreciating the visual arts. Designed to provide readers with a broad foundation in art history, principles of design, and the analysis of various artistic mediums, the book encourages readers to connect with art on a personal level. It aims to make art accessible and meaningful, offering tools for interpreting and valuing both historical and contemporary works.
The book is organized into multiple parts, each covering key themes that help readers explore the vast world of art. Topics range from the nature of art and its history to techniques, media, and principles of art analysis.
Part I: What is Art?
The opening chapters address fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of art, as well as the ways art shapes and reflects human experiences. This section introduces readers to the concept of art as a form of communication and an expression of individual and cultural identity.
Key Topics:
• Defining Art: Discusses what art is, how it differs across cultures and eras, and the subjective ways people interpret what constitutes "art."
• Functions and Purposes of Art: Covers the different roles art plays in society, including personal expression, storytelling, religious worship, and social or political commentary.
• Creativity and Expression: Explores the role of the artist as a creator, challenging viewers to think about the processes and motivations behind artistic expression.
Part II: The Visual Elements
This part examines the core elements that make up visual art, providing foundational knowledge that helps readers analyze and appreciate artworks. Concepts covered include line, shape, space, color, and texture, each of which contributes uniquely to the composition and meaning of a piece.
Key Topics:
• Line and Shape: Discusses how lines create boundaries and motion, and how shapes can be organic or geometric, contributing to the balance and rhythm of an artwork.
• Space and Depth: Looks at techniques artists use to create the illusion of three-dimensionality, including linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, and overlapping.
• Color Theory: Introduces color schemes, the color wheel, and the psychological effects of different colors, which add mood, contrast, and depth to visual works.
• Texture and Pattern: Examines the ways artists use real and implied texture to add richness to the surface of an artwork, and how patterns can create visual interest.
Part III: Principles of Design
In this section, readers learn about the principles that artists use to organize and balance the elements of art. By understanding these principles, students can better analyze how an artwork’s composition affects its impact.
Key Topics:
• Balance and Emphasis: Discusses how symmetry, asymmetry, and radial balance guide the viewer’s eye and create a focal point.
• Proportion and Scale: Explores how size relationships within an artwork influence the viewer's interpretation.
• Rhythm and Repetition: Looks at how repeated patterns and sequences provide movement and continuity within a piece.
• Unity and Variety: Explains how artists create harmony and interest by balancing cohesive elements with contrasting ones.
Part IV: Media and Techniques
This part of the book delves into the different materials and methods artists use to create their works. It covers both traditional media, like painting and sculpture, and modern techniques, like photography and digital art.
Key Topics:
• Drawing: Outlines different tools and techniques, from pencil to charcoal to pastels, and discusses how drawing serves as the foundation for many other artistic practices.
• Painting: Discusses mediums such as oil, acrylic, and watercolor, along with techniques like glazing, impasto, and fresco.
• Printmaking: Introduces processes like etching, lithography, and screen printing, showing how artists create multiple copies of a work.
• Photography: Covers the evolution of photography, from early daguerreotypes to digital images, and its role in capturing and influencing reality.
• Sculpture: Examines materials like stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as methods like carving, casting, and assemblage.
• Architecture: Looks at structural elements and styles from different periods, demonstrating how architecture combines functionality with aesthetic design.
• Digital Art and New Media: Explores the rise of computer-based art forms and the ways technology has expanded artistic possibilities.
Part V: Art History
In this extensive section, the book provides an overview of art history, tracing the development of art from ancient times to the contemporary era. Each chapter covers a distinct period or movement, focusing on key artworks, artists, and social or cultural influences.
Key Topics:
• Prehistoric Art: Looks at cave paintings, megalithic structures, and the earliest known artifacts.
• Ancient Art: Examines the art of early civilizations, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome.
• Medieval Art: Discusses Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic art, focusing on religious themes and architectural innovations.
• Renaissance Art: Covers the rebirth of classical ideals in Europe, highlighting major figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
• Baroque and Rococo: Explores the dramatic and decorative styles that characterized 17th- and 18th-century European art.
• Modern Art: Follows the shifts in art from Impressionism to Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, showing the break from traditional forms and perspectives.
• Contemporary Art: Discusses postmodern and current trends, including conceptual art,
installation art, and the influence of global and digital culture.
Part VI: Themes and Issues in Art
The final section encourages readers to think critically about the social, political, and philosophical themes that art addresses. It delves into topics like identity, ethics, and the role of art in society.
Key Topics:
• Art and Identity: Examines how art reflects personal, national, and cultural identities, as well as issues of gender, race, and ethnicity.
• Art and Politics: Looks at how artists have used their work to comment on political events and social movements, from propaganda to protest art.
• The Role of the Museum: Discusses the function of museums in preserving, displaying, and interpreting art, and the challenges of representing diverse perspectives.
• Ethics in Art: Addresses ethical questions related to censorship, cultural appropriation, and the ownership and repatriation of art.
• Art and the Environment: Explores the ways in which art addresses ecological issues, from landscape painting to environmental installations.
Living with Art, 13th Edition is more than an art history textbook; it’s an invitation to engage with art in a meaningful way. Through rich examples, thoughtful analysis, and practical insights, the book empowers readers to appreciate the artistry, context, and impact of visual works. By covering both the technical aspects of art creation and the complex cultural and historical narratives that art conveys, Living with Art aims to make art accessible to everyone, encouraging readers to recognize its presence and significance in everyday life. Whether for students, art enthusiasts, or casual readers, this text provides the tools to view and interpret art with an informed and open mind.