Reading Art: Art for Book Lovers

As every book tells a story, every book in art is part of an intriguing, engaging, and relatable image. In Reading Art: Art for Book Lovers, David Trigg looks into how books in art are used as symbols and subjects in their own right. He considers pieces from museums all over the world in a homage to both the written word and to its pivotal role in the visual world. One for both art geeks and bookworms. --CreativeBloq.com

Gathers together in one place the paintings and artworks through history that capture books as a thing of beauty. Reading Art: Art for Book Lovers, written by David Trigg, will have you putting down your latest page turner to gawp at the stunning ways different artists have captured the act of getting lost in a good book... The book also features an essay, exploring the inspirations for the project - including the idea of books as political and dangerous objects, often censored by oppressive regimes. --Evening Standard online

This book is perfect. --Rachel Cooke

An enchanting compendium of artworks that celebrate books and reading through 2,000 years of art history... An inspiring homage to the written word... Stunning survey. --Bookanista.com

An insightful and original survey... This book is a dazzling kaleidoscope that reveals the meeting points of image and written word. --The Lady

This imaginative approach to art history and how images tell a story is accessible to both scholars and lay readers. --Library Journal

A compendium of artworks that celebrate books and reading makes our very meta book of the week. Featuring almost 300 artworks from 2,000 years of art history, Reading Art investigates both the prevalence of books in art, as well as their the wider importance to creative thinking. A book about books, readers. The rip in the space-time continuum is truly upon us. --i-D.vice.com

David Trigg is a critic and art writer based in Bristol. He is a regular contributor to Phaidon books and has written articles and reviews for publications including Art Monthly, ArtReview, Frieze, and Art Papers. He has a PhD in Art History from the University of Bristol and is a member of the International Association of Art Critics.