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Margaret Livingstone
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Vision and Art (Updated and Expanded Edition) Hardcover – March 25, 2014

by Margaret S. Livingstone (Author), David Hubel (Foreword)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 153 ratings
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The updated and expanded edition of Harvard professor Margaret Livingstone’s Vision and Art, which successfully bridged the gap between science and art, exploring how great painters fool the brain: why Mona Lisa’s smile seems so mysterious or Monet’s Poppy Field appears to sway

Foreword by David Hubel

In this revised volume, Margaret Livingstone presents two additional chapters of her observations, has substantially expanded other chapters, and updates the rest of the existing text with insights gleaned from her ongoing research, bringing the book to the cutting edge in the field of neuroscience.

Accompanying Livingstone’s lively prose are many charts and diagrams that lucidly illustrate her points, as well as in-depth analyses of the phenomena found in major works of art. Be it the explanation of common optical illusions or the breakdown of techniques painters use to create those illusions, Vision and Art provides a wealth of information for artists, scholars, and scientists alike.

Includes illustrations
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Abrams Books
  4. Publication date
    March 25, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    9 x 1 x 11 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1419706926
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1419706929
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margaret Livingstone is a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. She has published numerous scholarly articles about vision. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.
David Hubel is a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and shared the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Abrams Books; Expanded edition (March 25, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1419706926
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1419706929
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 1 x 11 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 153 ratings

About the author

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Margaret Livingstone

Margaret Livingstone

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
153 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book informative and interesting for visual artists. It provides a unique perspective on art, with color illustrations of famous works that illustrate concepts. Readers describe the writing as clear, concise, and accessible.

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16 customers mention "Information value"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and useful for visual artists and photographers. They appreciate the added content and find it enjoyable and accessible.

"...professional level of knowledge and interest, but these books are both useful, enjoyable and accessible without being dumbed down to triviality...." Read more

"...This is a good book for photographers to read as well.Note: Amazon sells a newer and older version of the book...." Read more

"This is an excellent book both respect to its content and with respect to its production and printing...." Read more

"An interesting book - I bought it as a photographer as something different to read (there's only so many technical manuals you can digest)...." Read more

9 customers mention "Visual quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book visually appealing with its color pictures of famous artworks. It combines biological vision and artistic ideas in an interesting way, providing a deep understanding of how humans see shapes. The book is described as visually dramatic and impressive, useful for artists who want a deeper understanding of human vision.

"...This book by Livingstone is the most visually/graphically dramatic and impressive of all those listed here, and is certainly a good place to start." Read more

"...There are tons of color pictures of famous art works which show examples of the concepts...." Read more

"...The full color illustrations are well coordinated with the text and often demonstrate rather remarkable effects...." Read more

"Unexpectedly, the most fascinating art book I’ve ever read is written by a Harvard Medical School professor of neurophysiology. “..." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book clear and concise. They say it's well-written and a must-read for photographers and artists.

"...book "Eye, Brain, and Vision" (Freeman, 1995) is also interesting, well written, and available used quite inexpensively on Amazon...." Read more

"...I think this is a must read for photographers and artists, it's just such a different perspective to most books on those subjects." Read more

"...The text will be easy to follow by anyone with a very basic science background." Read more

"great book. clear concise." Read more

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Excelent quality hard cover book.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • tool using primate
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have the original addition, and after inspecting a library copy, bought the new edition as well
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The new addition has about 30 additional pages, the contents reorganized, and some additional diagrams while some of the first ed. diagrams are slightly smaller. I have not yet figured out which original diagrams are omitted, which someone complained of here. There has been enough new research over the last 20 years that I thought it worthwhile to have both editions. I hasten to say that I bought both as remaindered books, at a significantly reduced price. I would not want to spend the money to buy both editions at the regular price, and for some reason the first edition is currently listed used for more than the new edition prices on Amazon. I think the new edition is at least as useful as the original.

    This is an excellent overview of the neurocognition of vision for the educated layperson. I find the physiology accurately and well described in the context of my training in neurology and neurophysiology. I'm not sure I agree with all of the interpretations of cognitive/aesthetic response to various paintings used as examples, since I do not share all of the reactions described. The explanations of the visual illusions are more convincing.
    The author is the protege of David Hubel, a famous (Nobel laureate) and foundational modern researcher on the neurocognition of vision. His Scientific American Library book "Eye, Brain, and Vision" (Freeman, 1995) is also interesting, well written, and available used quite inexpensively on Amazon. I have it as well.
    There are more intense and deeper books on the topic for those with a more professional level of knowledge and interest, but these books are both useful, enjoyable and accessible without being dumbed down to triviality.
    Another interesting book on the topic is "Eye and Brain: the psychology of seeing" by R.L Gregory (Princeton U Press, 1997) which is a classic in its own way, updated through multiple editions, and interesting for its particular emphasis on visual illusions to illustrate neurocognitive functions. Intended for the well educated scientifically oriented layperson, or non-specialist professional/student, and perhaps a bit more academic in presentation, but very accessible and well written.

    This book by Livingstone is the most visually/graphically dramatic and impressive of all those listed here, and is certainly a good place to start.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Andy G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent: Make sure to get the new version
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The other reviewers have done a good job describing the book. As an engineer involved in camera design, I especially loved the 2nd half of the book that chronicles how artists discovered and exploited the many concepts of human vision and perception. I've been involved in color science, camera design and computer graphics for over 30 years, and still learned a lot from this book. I would recommend it to my artist friends as well. It requires no math or previous knowledge of biology. You could skip the fascinating sections on the biology of human vision and jump right into the art part if you want. There are tons of color pictures of famous art works which show examples of the concepts. This is a good book for photographers to read as well.

    Note: Amazon sells a newer and older version of the book. Make sure you get the newer version. I have both, because I accidentally bought the older version first.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Camera Bug
    5.0 out of 5 stars Science and art come together
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent book both respect to its content and with respect to its production and printing. The full color illustrations are well coordinated with the text and often demonstrate rather remarkable effects. The relevance of the biology of vision to understandng some works of visual art offers a unique approach to both of these topics. Although I am a retired professor of psychology who has covered some of this material in my classes, I discovered new insights from this book. Nevertheless, the material should also be accessible to a reader who does not have a previous exposure to these ideas. Of additional interest is the material on the development of color televison and how this relates to the way color is represented in human vision. If I may propose an extension of the author's conclusions, findings showing that the color system has much lower resolution than the form system would seem to suggest that the reason black and while photography can be so dramatic is that it elimates distraction from lower resolution color information.
    22 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Saikat Baksi
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too complex and at times confusing
    Reviewed in India on December 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Highly detailed and a bit too descriptive in terms of technicality.
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  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beau livre et superbe lecture
    Reviewed in France on May 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Super livre. Je trouve que le niveau de détail et les explications sont bien équilibrés pour un lecteur curieux mais pas scientifique. Il est grand, amplement illustré et joli.
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  • murilo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I am an ophthalmologist and an artist. So, I was waiting for this book my entire life. Recommend!
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  • Anne Hodgson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully explained
    Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    If you want to understand why your eyes play tricks on you, get this book. Suitable from young adulthood to seniors.
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  • analyst
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and valuable for science as well as art
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Most researchers in perception are buried in theoretical tunnels and have neither seen nor thought about reality for a long time. Worse, in most experiements in perception subjects are not even asked what they see. Some derived measure is used instead. If you want to find out what people see do not waste your time reading a general text book on perception. This book is beautifully different. A first class research worker with an interest in art has turned her mind to investigating what we see when we look at pictures. It thus links science with reality in a way that is sorely needed in perception. A number of different ideas, derived from research, are outlined and linked to what we see when viewing works of art. The writing is very clear but some of the ideas are a little complex and thus not easy to grasp. (Understanding Scientific American would make a good comparison). The book is beautifully presented with lots of illustrations and carefully selected works of art. Not an easy read for everyone but more than worth for those who can handle this material.
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