Arnold Böcklin

Schmid, Heinrich Alfred, 1863-1951Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 135K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Arnold Böcklin by Heinrich Alfred SchmidAuthor: Schmid, Heinrich Alfred, 1863-1951,Language: German, Class: N: Fine Arts, Release Date: May 23, 2006

Editor's review

This is a German-language critical art biography of the Swiss Symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin. Drawing on solid art-historical scholarship, Schmid traces the painter's creative development and artistic style. The book examines the intertwining of myth, nature, and death imagery in Böcklin's work, helping readers understand why he had such wide influence in the German-speaking art world of the late nineteenth century. As an early study, it leans toward description and commentary and carries the tone of art criticism of its time, making it both a primary source on Böcklin and a sample of how art history was written then. The German original suits readers with some language background who read slowly, ideally alongside a catalogue of the paintings. For readers studying Symbolism, the late currents of German Romanticism, or nineteenth-century European art, it offers perspectives and material worth close reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Specialist readers studying nineteenth-century European art and Symbolism
Art lovers interested in Böcklin's life and work
Art history students and researchers with German reading ability
Readers interested in the tradition of German-language art criticism

Not a good fit for

General readers with no German who do not wish to use a translation
Those expecting a lavish plate section or art-book reading experience
Light readers seeking a quick overview of Böcklin's life and anecdotes

Reading tips

Before reading, browse a catalogue of Böcklin's major works to build visual familiarity, then turn to the commentary
Read chapter by chapter, noting how the author links analysis of specific works to the historical context
German sentences are often long; after each chapter, summarize the main points in your own words
Read alongside other studies of Symbolism to compare different scholarly assessments

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this an art album or a textual study?

It is a textual art-historical study focused on analyzing Böcklin's work and style, not a plate album. It is best read with reproductions or a catalogue at hand to follow the analysis of individual works.

Can I read this book without knowing German?

The original is in German, so reading it directly without German is difficult. Look first for Chinese or English studies of Böcklin as alternatives; if you need to cite this book's views, use a reliable translation or professional assistance and check the original context.

How helpful is this book for understanding Böcklin?

It is one of the earlier systematic studies of Böcklin, useful for grasping his themes and stylistic development and for seeing how the art world of his time judged him. But it carries the limitations of its era; combine it with more recent scholarship and catalogues of his work.

Comments

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About the author

Schmid, Heinrich Alfred, 1863-1951 Author · Swiss · 1863–1951

Heinrich Alfred Schmid (1863–1951) was a Swiss art historian. He taught for many years at the University of Basel, where he held a professorship, and his scholarship is known above all for its work on the paintings of Holbein. Among the works recorded in our catalogue is a single title, Arnold Böcklin, indicating that he also wrote specifically on the contemporary Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin. Public information about his life is limited; on the evidence available, his writing rests on solid visual and documentary research and addresses both specialists and general readers, giving it a place in German-language art history.