Writing About Art (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Henry M. Sayre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0130416142 | ISBN-13: 978-0130416148 | Edition: 4

For one/two-semester courses in Art History Survey and Art Appreciation, as well as a supplement in Art Studio and Writing Across the Curriculum courses. This straightforward guide prepares students to describe, interpret, and write about works of art in meaningful and lasting terms. Designed as a supplement to Art History survey and period texts, this efficient book features a step-by-step approach to writing--from choosing a work to write about, to essay organization, to research techniques, to footnote form, to preparing the final essay. For beginners as well as more advanced students.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This new edition continues to prepare students for written description and interpretation of art. A perfect supplement to Art History survey and period texts, this book is a step-by-step process-- from choosing your piece to preparing the final essay-- for beginners as well as more advanced students. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

In the tradition of its best-selling earlier editions, Writing About Art, Fourth Edition, continues to prepare students for writing assignments requiring the description and interpretation of art. Widely used as a complement to Art History survey and period texts, this book provides students with an easily accessible, step-by-step approach to writing about art—from choosing a work to write about to preparing the final essay, including a complete guide to research and citation.

Author Henry M. Sayre includes essays written by students—one complete one and four others in draft—and, new to this edition, Erwin Panofsky's famous short essay on Van Eyck's Arnolfini Betrothal, a model of art historical writing. All of these essays are designed to demonstrate not only the process of writing about art but alternative approaches that different students, with different learning and writing styles, find useful.

The new edition also includes new up-to-date material on research and writing in on-line environments and an appendix that presents a short guide to usage and style. Writing About Art, Fourth Edition, addresses the needs of students working at every level of technological sophistication, from pen and paper to the Internet.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130416142
• ISBN-13: 978-0130416148
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Useful Handbook, March 5, 2004

By 

Timothy Walker (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing About Art (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

It's beyond cliché to say that a book has changed your life, but this little handbook - a supplemental art history text, of all things - ranks with scripture and great literature as one of the most personally beneficial books I've ever read. This may say more about me than the book, of course, but if you are the sort of person who finds it difficult to think about art, let alone talk or write about it, then perhaps this will give you hope.

Professor Sayre starts this handbook with a simple thesis: everyone could write about art, if only they knew where to start. To prove his point, Sayre chooses pieces that most laypeople would consider indescribable (like the abstractions of Jackson Pollock) and teaches the reader, slowly but surely, how to really look at the work. With subsequent lessons on choice, composition, and color, even the most "non-artistic" thinkers will begin to see things in a different light... and then Professor Sayre will then teach you how to put those thoughts into words.

If you are privileged enough to attend a school where the humanities are still actively taught, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book - your papers and grades will doubtlessly improve. But even if your chances of ever taking an art appreciation class are slim, if you have any interest in the subject at all, then I highly recommend this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The "Extra" Art History Textbook: A Writing Manual Roundup, May 23, 2009

By 

Travis E. Nygard - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing About Art (6th Edition) (Paperback)

"I know of two books specifically geared toward teaching writing in art history courses. They are Sylvan Barnet's A Short Guide to Writing About Art and Henry Sayre's Writing About Art. Their strength lies in addressing common problems that students face in the art history classroom. I have found them to be useful guides for viewing assignments and research papers in introductory classes--which is their goal. For classes built around more complex writing, however, the books below are more appropriate."

Excerpt from my blog entry The "Extra" Art History Textbook: A Writing Manual Roundup: [...]

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A book for artists & non-artists alike, February 21, 2009

By 

Erin Joy "Erin Joy" (Northern, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing About Art (Paperback)

I ordered this book as it was required for an Introduction to Modern Art class I was taking. I really appreciated the user friendly approach the author took. The book literally guides one through the steps of writing a paper from its pre-conception until the birth of the final paper. I would definitely recommend this book for it is not only helpful academically, but an interesting, non-dry read as well!