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Wilhelm Leibl: The Art of Seeing

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Wilhelm Leibl: The Art of Seeing explores the life and work of Wilhelm Leibl (1844-1900), a leading European portraitist and key figure in Realism. The book accompanies a major museum exhibition in Switzerland and Austria, featuring 40 paintings and 60 drawings. It emphasises Leibl's unique approach to figure painting, highlighting his preference for presenting subjects in natural, truthful light rather than idealised beauty.

Insightful essays examine Leibl's balance between traditional and modern techniques, his influence on European Realism, his notable use of black, and his connections to artists like Degas and regions like Hungary. The volume considers Leibl's lasting impact on twentieth- and twenty-first-century art.
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Format: Hardback
$10000
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This volume will engage readers interested in art history, Realism, and European portraiture. It is ideal for students, scholars, and museum visitors keen to deepen their understanding of Wilhelm Leibl's artistic legacy and his role in shaping modern figure painting.

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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

Wilhelm Leibl: The Art of Seeing by Albertina Wien, Bernhard von Waldkirch, Marianne von Manstein, and Züricher Kunstgesellschaft explores the work of Wilhelm Leibl (1844-1900), who is regarded as one of the most significant portraitists and a key figure in European Realism.

This volume includes large-format illustrations of 40 paintings and 60 drawings, accompanying the first comprehensive museum exhibition focused on portraits and representations of figures, to be shown in Switzerland and Austria.

Leibl explained his approach to modern figure painting by emphasising his retreat to the countryside. For him, the decisive factor in a portrait was not the model's attractiveness, but how he or she was presented in a good light.

The publication provides insightful contributions on Leibl's position between tradition and modernity, his impact on European Realism, and his notable affinity for the colour black. It also discusses his relationship with Degas, his connections to Hungary, and his significance for the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783777433875

Publisher: Hirmer Verlag

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 09 January 2020

Country: Germany

Imprint: Hirmer Verlag

Illustration: 160 Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 220.0mm

Height: 270.0mm

Weight: 1620g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Bernhard von Waldkirch is curator of prints and drawings at the Kunsthaus Zürich. Marianne von Manstein is an art historian and curator.

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