Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Stile in der bildenden Kunst. Erster Band.: Vom Altertum bis zur Gotik

by Ernst Cohn-Wiener

"Die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Stile in der bildenden Kunst. Erster Band: Vom Altertum bis zur Gotik" by Dr. phil. Ernst Cohn-Wiener is a scholarly treatise on the evolution of artistic styles written in the early 20th century. This publication aims to provide an exhaustive overview of artistic styles from antiquity through Gothic art, emphasizing the cultural context and continuity of styles rather than merely listing names and dates. Through this approach, the author seeks to elucidate the intrinsic nature of art and its ongoing development across different periods. The opening of the book provides an overview of its intent and thematic structure, beginning with a foreword that explains the differentiation of styles in visual arts, emphasizing the need to view art as a dynamic interplay of cultural elements rather than static categories. Cohn-Wiener discusses the elusiveness of defining styles through mere characteristics, advocating for an understanding rooted in the cultural and historical context that shaped them. The text introduces the first chapter, which focuses on ancient Egyptian art, noting its uniquely unified style that served religious purposes, and foreshadows an analysis of other epochs and regions as the book progresses.