What can art tell us about how the brain works? And what can the brain tell us about how we perceive and create art? Humans have created visual art throughout history and its significance has been an endless source of fascination and debate. Visual art is a product of the human brain, but is art so complex and sophisticated that brain function and evolution are not relevant to our understanding? This book explores the links between visual art and the brain by examining a broad range of issues including: the impact of eye and brain disorders on artistic output; the relevance of Darwinian principles to aesthetics; and the constraints imposed by brain processes on the perception of space, motion and colour in art. Arguments and theories are presented in an accessible manner and general principles are illustrated with specific art examples, helping students to apply their knowledge to new artworks.

Reviews & endorsements

"A sumptuous book covering art history and linking it to a broad and deep coverage of visual neurosciences. This is a delightful, engaging text for advanced undergraduates as well as for specialists in vision and in art who want to understand the overlap of the two disciplines. It will bring both groups of readers back to favourite works of art with a new appreciation."
Patrick Cavanagh, Université Paris Descartes and Harvard University

Customer reviews

Product details

• Date Published: December 2013
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9780521184793
• length: 211 pages

• dimensions: 246 x 175 x 14 mm
• weight: 0.59kg
• contains: 50 b/w illus. 20 colour illus.
• availability: Available