Looking at the Overlooked

Few art-historians can unpeel images in the way that he does. * Frances Spalding, The Independent *
The still-life really comes to life in this book. * Good Book Guide *
Remarkable essays * Lawrence Gowing, TLS *
In four dazzling essays, [Bryson] breaks through the profound, enigmatic silences that have made still life resistant to interpretation for centuries . . . By including still life in the current discourse on gender and patriarchal modes of seeing, Bryson brings it up to date, arguing convincingly for its permanent relevance. For if he is correct, then still life will always offer painters a rich seam to mine. * Nancy Grimes, ARTnews *
There can be little doubt that Bryson has succeeded brilliantly in his aim of developing our critical discourse: novel interpretations can be found on every page of this book. Like all the best art critics, Bryson succeeds in extending the range of our response to the paintings he writes about: after reading his words on Zurbarán or Chardin their still lifes become tinged with his eloquence. * Paul Taylor, Art History *
In return I would like Norman Bryson's Looking at the Overlooked. I leant my copy to someone and never got it back. Of course I didn't. It's superb. * Sarah Winman, The Observer 'Best Books to Give as Presents this Christmas' *