Forms of Enchantment: Writings on Art and Artists

by Marina Warner

An anthology of enlightening writing by an award-winning critic that engages with art in its social, political, and aesthetic contexts. Art writing at its most useful should share the dynamism, fluidity, and passions of the objects of its enquiry, argues author Marina Warner in this new anthology. Here, some of Warner’s most compelling writing captures the visual experience of the work of a diverse group of artists―with a notable focus on the inner lives of women―through an exploration of the range of stories and symbols to which they allude in their work. Warner vividly describes this imagery, covering the connection with animals in the work of Louise Bourgeois, the Catholicism of Damien Hirst, performance as a medium of memory in the installations of Joan Jonas, and more.
Rather than drawing on connoisseurship, Warner’s approach grows principally out of anthropology and mythology. Accompanied by illustrations of the works being described, Marina Warner’s writing unites the imagination of artist, writer, and reader, creating a reading experience that parallels the intrinsic pleasure of looking at art. This book will appeal to any student of art history, those interested in philosophy, feminism, and more generally in the humanities.
40 illustrations in color

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Essays, Literary Criticism

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2018

About the author

Marina Sarah Warner is a British novelist, short story writer, historian and mythographer. She is known for her many non-fiction books relating to feminism and myth.

She is a professor in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre at the University of Essex, and gave the Reith Lectures on the BBC in 1994 on the theme of 'Managing Monsters: Six Myths of Our Time.'

Reviews

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative, but mostly reads like a chat gpt written exhibition catalogue

[A. J · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The artist's quest is a form of pilgrimage..."
Myth and childhood, dreams and desires, the unveiling of artists. Marina Warner's book was a revelation for me in many ways. I decided to pick up this book after being introduced to Warner in a Literature and Gender class. I watched her talk at Google and was fascinated by her vast knowledge of stories and old wives tales. So I went poking around my school's library to find works by Warner and this is the book I found.
Reading Forms of Enchantment gave me a greater appreciation for the analysis of art. The way that Warner looks at art and artists is inspiring. She gets to the heart of artistic work and pulls together related works to form a narrative of enchantment. Reading her book truly felt like stepping into a different world, one where artistic vision equaled magic. A lot of these artists I had never heard of and I loved that reading this book gave me so many people to look into.
I would highly recommend Warner's book to you all if you enjoy reading about art. I gave the book four stars on Goodreads.

[Ruth Brumby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly explaining a great deal of art theory in simple terms and linked to particular examples. Lovely use of myth and word study. Well written. A good choice and understanding of artists. Well structured in themes. Managing to see art as recuperative and hopeful in bad times.
Stressing the importance of art making you think but not giving a solution, of ambivalence and the combination of reason and imagination through making.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me an embarrassingly long time to read. it sometimes felt impossible to get in the headspace for. at times it reads as impossibly dense and lacklustre but when it’s good, it’s fabulous and heart-opening and pleasingly informative. the chapters on kiki smith and jumana emil abboud are especially good, but perhaps that’s because i felt their art leap off the page and run straight towards me. the interweaving of myth and fable and fairytale is what makes this sparkle.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were published with all the images described? I personally found some of the essays fascinating, while others didn't interest me as much, so those I just skimmed till I got to another good one.

[Caroline]

Brilliant look at artists and their relationship to myths and enchantment

[Anna Toher]

Heillandi texti og ljóðræn skrif um listamenn og myndlist. Töfrandi áhrif myndlistar og dulúð er dregið fram í dagsljósið.