James Elkins

This deeply personal account of emotion and vulnerability draws upon anecdotes related to individual works of art to present a chronicle of how people have shown emotion before works of art in the past.

A History of People who Have Cried in Front of Paintings

Pictures & Tears

Giovanni Garcia-Fenech 

The topic is fascinating, and when Elkins talks about specific works of art he is great. Unfortunately, when he talks about emotions he doesn't say much and he repeats his few points insufferably; a good editor would have trimmed this book by a quarter. That said, Elkins' position that we are poorer for having forgotten how to engage with paintings emotionally - and the role that museums and art historians play in this development - will stay with you and affect the way you look at art in the future.

Pictures & Tears A History of People who Have Cried in Front of Paintings

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