Introduction

This book describes a visual approach to art. It stands in contrast to the current linguistic approach. It is about looking at art rather than reading about art. Looking at hundreds of works of art from the whole history of art demonstrates that every work of art needs to be seen in a particular way, the way it was seen when it was made. We do not see the world directly. We see pictures of the world in our head.

The Methods

These are ten basic ways for looking at art based on the ways we look at the pictures in our head. These ten ways when applied to works of art from the stone age to the present reveal patterns in the ways of looking at art throughout history. They also reveal neglected masterpieces, famous works misidentified and how the misunderstood work of certain famous artists should be seen.