Gothic formalism

Author: (German) Walther Worringer / Zhang Jian / Zhou Gang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book is the foundational translation of Formalism in Gothic Art. The author uses this general art theory to explain Gothic art, one of the most inspiring essays in modern art criticism. In its critical approach to all previous standards of Gothic art criticism, it is pioneering and thus represents a re-evaluation of Gothic art based on a speculative hypothesis. This speculation, as an integral part of its structure, also includes the author's genuine, intuitive perception or aesthetic experience of Gothic art—not merely social and economic conditions, but rather the general spiritual aspirations of the Gothic people, their world, and their will. In this sense, Gothic becomes a broadly applicable term. Indeed, one of Professor Worringer's most original contributions to art theory is establishing a connection between Gothic art and the general Gothic spirit. This essay is not merely a work of psychological analysis; it is also a work rich in imagination and insight. Not only the external reality of the Middle Ages but also its religious and intellectual life are recreated and interpreted in a way that engages our understanding. Ruskin is a writer familiar to us, whose achievements in describing the charm of Gothic art are outstanding, but Professor Worringer goes beyond this: he explains the charm of Gothic art from the perspective of the time of Gothic art. Gothic art is no longer a romantic preference of travelers and archaeologists; it has achieved a position as a great era in the history of European cultural development.