Painting and tears

Author: James Elkins
Publisher: Zuoyan
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Painting and Tears is both strange and magical. It examines certain paintings and the emotions they evoke. "Why do we lack deep feelings when facing pictures?" is an intriguing question. The artists who created these works all possessed unattainable ambitions, and their devout dedication could be described as honorable. Often, they became inexplicably absorbed in their creative work. What I wanted to understand was: Why do we view these people's remarkable achievements as ordinary, even going so far as to make sarcastic remarks to show our disdain? Are pictures really just beautiful decorations on the wall? Or are they merely index cards cited in academic debates? Some might say, "I like pictures," but their feelings when facing them are so impoverished. What does this situation imply? If pictures are so important, yet we rarely experience any emotions when interacting with them, isn't this a deeply puzzling matter? Therefore, the author of this book attempts to explore the connection between pictures and tears (emotional fluctuations in the heart), and in addition to his own research and analysis, he also exchanges letters with ordinary people to share their feelings about viewing pictures. The book also includes these letters that express shared emotions.