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The Art of Gesture

Classical and Renaissance Expressions
By Andrew Benjamin
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Brief Description
Andrew Benjamin approaches the relationship between philosophy and art history through the concept of gesture. Critically engaging with Walter Benjamin, Aby Warburg, and Giorgio Agamben, by focusing on gesture he offers a novel philosophical intervention into the classical problem of 'meaning' in art, as well as... Read More
Format: Hardback
$63000

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A philosophy or art in contradistinction to aesthetics. A genuine philosophical engagement with the detail of works of art.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Andrew Benjamin approaches the relationship between philosophy and art history through the concept of gesture. Critically engaging with Walter Benjamin, Aby Warburg, and Giorgio Agamben, by focusing on gesture he offers a novel philosophical intervention into the classical problem of 'meaning' in art, as well as addressing the new perspectives brought by political theology into art theory.

Benjamin uses gesture to function as the continual point of orientation, allowing works of art and their detail to be central. Original interpretations of Domenico Ghirlandaio, Rosso Fiorentino, and Piero della Francesca show how Christian political theology has an operative presence within the works of art examined. A key theme running through the book is the question of time in the work of art, alongside the question of how art history, and the representation of history in art, are to be understood philosophically.

The Art of Gesture delves deep into the philosophical underpinnings and interpretations of art, making it an essential read for those interested in the intersections of art and philosophy.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399529631

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 30 April 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Edinburgh University Press

Illustration: 28 colour illustrations

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 240

Collections

Andrew Benjamin Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism

About the Author

Andrew Benjamin is an Honorary Professor in the School of Communication and Cultural Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. He has held posts in a number of UK and Australian universities. He started his career at the University of Warwick rising to the position of Professor of Philosophy and until 2022 taught for one semester each year at Kingston University in London where he was associated with the Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy. He is the author of numerous books including Working with Walter Benjamin: Recovering a Political Philosophy (2013) and Of Jews and Animals (2011) both published by Edinburgh University Press.

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