While most books on the artist are lengthy and hyper-theoretical, The Duchamp Dictionary presents the artist in a more digestible, light-hearted way. It packs years of his life and legacy into a couple hundred pages of bite-sized, alphabetical dictionary entries. Perfect for someone with a short attention span, it’s just as exciting when read chronologically or by picking pages at random.
Based on a BBC television series by John Berger, Ways of Seeing is one of art’s most influential theories. As you could guess from the title, Berger analyses the ways in which we see art, challenging us to view images differently, to pick apart their meaning rather than simply accepting them. Focusing on the male gaze, his leftist ideologies have completely changed the way we see the female figure in art and advertising today.
Cat’s Eye tells a fictional tale of a controversial artist, Elaine Risley, uncomfortable with her work being part of an emerging feminist movement. It’s been argued she's a representation of Atwood herself, another creative figure who has objected to her work being labeled “feminist”.
Thomas P. Campbell and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Artist Project: What Artists See When They Look At Art (2013)
An exception to never judging by its cover, this aesthetically pleasing book is beautiful inside and out. Inside, 120 of the world’s most influential artists discuss the works that inspired them, alongside their own contemporary works. A personal guide of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, it’s like strolling through the gallery with Nan Goldin, John Baldessari, or Nick Cave. It’s personal, historical and sheds light on art-making, creativity and the history of museums.
Mary Acton, Learning to Look at Paintings (2008)
Learning to Look at Paintings is a tool book for understanding how to understand and analyze paintings, drawings, and prints. Illustrated with over 100 images from Western European and American art history, it discusses everything from Rembrandt to O’Keefe. Accessible and informative, it even includes a glossary of critical and technical terms used and a list for further reading.
Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects (1550, later republished in 1568)
Arguably one of the most important books in art history, Lives narrates the scandalous and inspiring biographies of Renaissance artists. By focusing on personal stories as well as artistic techniques, the book made Vasari the first ever art historian, in the modern sense. But while Lives is a fundamental source of art history information, it should be read with a pinch of salt. Dates are often incorrect, stories appear exaggerated or based on studio gossip, and some noteworthy artists were left out. But despite its validity, Vasari’s turned the artist from a craftsman to hero, creating art history as we know it today.
Carol Mavor, Aurelia: Art and Literature Through the Mouth of the Fairy Tale (2017)
Art Historian Carol Mavor’s book explores the effect of fairy tales on art and literature. Both analytical and novelesque, she spins a dreamlike web of words and images. From Francesca Woodman photographs to medieval manuscript illuminations, its mesmerizing images and thought-provoking analysis are simultaneously beautiful, insightful and sinister.
Tracy Chevalier, Girl with a Pearl Earring (1999)
It’s one of the world’s most famous paintings, but little is known about the inception of Jan Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. In this historical novel, Tracy Chevalier imagines the story behind the work, and the woman it so intimately depicts. Despite being fictional, it's historically and geographically accurate, ensured by Chevalier’s extensive studies on Vermeer, and trips to the Dutch town of Delft.
Yoko Ono, Grapefruit: A Book of Instructions and Drawings (2000)
Originally published in the 1960’s, Grapefruit remains a cultural icon and an early example of conceptual art. It’s part grown-up activity book, part philosophical guide, filled with poems, instructions, cheeky drawings and quotes like: “Smoke everything you can / including your pubic hair.” It’s playful, heart-warming and reflects the uninhibited character of the sixties.
