In the Objective Standard, I review Luc Travers' Stories in Paint and Sandra Shaw's Windows on Humanity. The first is an invitation to people who might feel that they don't "get" art; the latter is a philosophical study of ancient art from the cave man days to the fall of Rome, as viewed through the art of the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. Excerpt:
Nobody entering an art museum should have to arrive armed with a “grounding in art theory, art history, and knowledge about the cultural and art historical contexts” before being able to comprehend and evaluate the pieces inside. But such information can and should help enrich the experience—an experience that properly starts with such simple questions as: What is this artwork saying—and what do I feel about it? By giving us doorways into a wider world of art and ideas—and doing so without the backing of any major publishing houses—Travers and Shaw have not only done us all a great service but have testified to the enormous value of art in all our lives.
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